Evening star., 1934-03-09
Notable Fraser Miniatures Exhibited
BY LEILA MECHLIN.

~ slst1ng OF 100 miniatures by
~ Charles Fraser, one of the
4 a greatest of American minia-
ture painters, opened in the
National Gallery Of Art Wednesday
TO continue until March 27. Never
nelore nave SO many miniatures by
this distinguished painter been shown
outside OF Charleston, his native city.
This remarkable collection is shown
mere through the cooperation of the
Caroiina Art Association, under the
auspices Of which an exhibition of
twice the size was assembled and
shown in the Gibbes Memorial Art
Gallery Of Charleston last month.
The name Of Charles Fraser is out
standing in the annals of American
art. Born in Charleston, S. c.. on
August 20, 1882, when the Reyolu-
tionary War was drawing to its close,
ne lived until October S, 1860, when
the Civil War was not far distant.
During his mature years he painted
between three and four hundred min
iatures, the sitters for which were the
aristocrats of the South-chiefly South
Carolinians.
Youngest Of IA Children.
Charles Fraser was the youngest Of
IA children. His father dying when
he was but 8 years age, his older
brothers became his guardians. BY
them, it is understood, his choice Of
an artistic career was opposed. So
strong was this opposition that in 1906
he entered the law Office of John
Julius Pringle, attorney general of
South Carolina, and the following year
was admitted to the bar. He con-
tinued to practice law only until 1918,
by which time he had so improved
his fortune" that he was able to re-
tire and take up painting as a pro-
fession. During his school days he
made friends with Thomas Sully, who
was also resolved to be a painter, and
later he formed close associations with
Washington Allston and Edward Nal.
bone-in fact. during the latter
numerous visits to Charleston between
1900 and 1906, Fraser worked with
him and his early miniatures strongly
reflect the influence of this master
Fraser never entirely abandoned min
iature painting even while practicing
law. and it Is said that he always
lamented the loss of time given to
legal pursuits.
In 1857, three years before Fraser's
death, 313 miniatures and paintings
were assembled and exhibited for two
months in Charleston under the title
v,l
catalogue of that exhibition that the
recent exhibition in Charleston was
based
New Miniatures Shown.
The present exhibition in the Ma
tional Gallery of Art comprises many
Of the miniatures listed in the 1857
exhibition, including a few which still
have quaint little printed tickets OF
that early exhibition attached. Also
several miniatures that were not in
the Charleston exhibition are here
having been very lately located.
These 100 miniatures have come
chiefly from private owners-descend-
ants in most instances of those who
are portrayed. by whom their loan has
been generously continued, but quite
a number are owned and lent by art
museums and well known art collec-
tors. such, among the former, as the
Metropolitan Museum of Art and the
Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, and
among the latter Herbert L. Pratt and
John Hill Morgan of New York. They
are priceless.
To such an exhibition as this a
double interest attaches-interest in
the miniatures as works Of art Of rare
quality and interest in the personali-
ties presented. The roster of Charles
tons first families finds almost COM
plete representation. Here are minia-
ture portraits of those who proudly
bore and did honor to such names as
Rutledge. Pinckney. Gadsden. Huger,
Hayward. Pringle, Poinsett, Baron,
Horny, Mayzck, Waring. Drayton,
Hampton, Gibbes, Jersey, Legare. Deas
and many others-names associated
with Charleston a hundred years ago
great Americans standing for d chap
ter in American life which will always
possess the glamour of romance.
Began Drawing in 1872.
Fraser began drawing as early as
1892. Incidentally. of very great in
terest in the exhibition in Charleston
were a number of exquisite little por-
traits in india ink of members of the
Ladson family-the mother. Mrs. Lad
son, a niece of the artist, her five
children and their nurse. But the
earliest miniature included In the ex-
hibition in the National Gallery OF
Art was painted by Fraser in 1903
and is of John Julius Pringle, jr., the
son of the man in whose office as
a law student he found employment.
This early work gives instant evidence
of the painters gift, and manifests
to an extraordinary degree the char
acteristics Of his style, breadth and
simplicity.
There are in this exhibition no less
than four versions of a miniature Of
his patron, the elder Pringle, the rea-
sistently refused to have his portrait
painted. when he arrived at the age
Of almost 80 he ordered Fraser to
pe1l1lL q AAh1AdtAAC Va AAAAAA ASA SoNAA "a
his four children. They are almost
identical and are excellent-portraits
Of an old man still in the fullness Of
power-works IN miniature which
compare Interestingly with the Rae
burn portrait in the National Gallery
Of his fellow artist, Archibald Skirv-
ing, q beautiful old man.
John julius Pringle was at one time
secretary to Ralph lizard when COM
missioner to the court Of Tuscany.
For 16 years he was attorney general
of South Carolina, and is recorded
as having declined the ofiice Of At
torney General of the United States
under Jefferson. The old Pringle
house in Charleston is one Of the
sights of that most interesting city.
Miniature of Col. Skirving.
Referring to the Skirving portrait BY
Raeburn, there Is to be found In this
exhibition a miniature Of Col. William
Skirving, born In 1745. q representative
HALF A CREAM
TNICTJTETTTENT