Charleston County ScArchives News.....Charles Fraser Desk on Display at Art Gallery December 14, 1964
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/sc/scfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Barbara B Hootman bhootman@juno.com August 8, 2007, 7:11 pm

Source:  Charleston Historical Society, Fraser Vertical File

The News and Courier, Mon., Dec. 14, 1964
                                                                               
Charleston, S.C.

CHARLES FRASER
DESK ON DISPLAY
AT ART GALLERY

      With the renovation of Gibbes Art Gallery, space has become available 
for the display of an Empire style desk which belonged to 19th century 
Charleston artist Charles Fraser.  
      The mahogony - veneer standing secretary with brass decoration was
placed on deposit at the gallery by a Fraser Descendant in 1924.  It as 
subsequently bought for the gallery by Mrs. Percy Gamble Kammerer, but
remained in storage due to lack of adequate display space.
      The desk is now in the upstairs office of gallery director of Miss
Helen McCormick.  It will eventually be placed in the miniature room, which
was also a gift of Mrs. Kammerer, when that room is expanded.  Miss McCormick 
explains:
      Presumably Fraser used the desk in his 55 King St. residence, Miss
McCormick says.
      China given to the gallery in memory of Miss Leila Waring, also
a noted miniaturist, has been placed in an alcove in the top section of the 
desk.  The china was a gift of Mrs. George. H. Wipple of Rochester, N.Y.
      Charles Fraser, born in Charleston in 1782, studied law and was 
admitted to the bar in 1807.  HYe practiced for about 10 years before saving 
enough to begin his chosen career of art.
      Fraser lived in the time of such artists as Thomas Sully,
Washington Allston, and Thomas Malbone.  One of the highlights of his
career was a commission to paint a likeness of LaFayette when the French
general visited Charleston in 1825.
      Best known as a miniaturist, he also painted many portraits and
landscapes.  In an exhibition held here in 1857, there were 313 miniatures
and 134 oil paintings displayed.

Additional Comments:

Unfortunately, the picture in the paper of the desk is too degraded to copy.



File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/sc/charleston/newspapers/charlesf21gnw.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/scfiles/

File size: 3.9 Kb