Charles Fraser was born on August 20, 1782 and grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. During his childhood he began learning about the world of painting. Despite the lack of support from his parents to pursue a painting career, Fraser endured with the encouragement of his fellow painters and friends. Other artistic support came from one of his drawing teachers, Thomas Coram. Fraser was mostly known for painting of miniatures, but he also created paintings of historical sites, landscapes, and various types of still lifes during his lifetime.

Fraser's career included work as a lawyer, historian, writer, and politician. About the age of 36 he started to focus primarily on his art. Fraser worked exclusively in watercolors and oil paint.

Fraser's concentration on landscapes occurred predominantly after the 1820s. His landscapes were very picturesque as well as geographically accurate, just as his earlier miniature paintings had been full of explicit detail and light colors. Fraser was celebrated as an artist in 1825 when he was inducted as a member of the American Academy of Fine Arts. Many of Fraser's works are displayed in his hometown of Charleston at the Carolina Art Association and Gibbes Art Gallery. The artist died in 1860 in Charleston. (CEZ)

References:

Edward J. Nygren, Views and Visions: American Landscape before 1830 (Washington, D.C.: The Corcoran Gallery of Art, 1986), pg.260-261.

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