Charles Conner
Encyclopedia
Charles Fremont Conner was an American artist who was one of the most important painters in the Richmond Group
in Richmond, Indiana
.
Conner is considered as one of the most talented early Richmond artists. He was self-taught and began his career as an industrial painter for the Hoosier Drill Company where he painted decorations and small landscape scenes on farm machinery.
Conner became a close friend with painter John Elwood Bundy
and exhibited his works alongside the Richmond Group artists. He was a plein-air painter and often spent long periods of time living in a tent and painting outdoors. In 1887, he moved to California with his brother Albert, also a painter. He spent the next eight years painting the Pacific Coast before he would return to Richmond. It was during this time that his painting improved immensely.
In 1904, Conner made a place for himself in the art world by having his masterpiece, “Wet Night in February” exhibited in the main hall of the St. Louis World’s Fair alongside works by nationally recognized artists.
Yet despite his talent and recognition, the most Conner ever received in his lifetime for a work was $150. This work, “The Old Swimming Hole” was purchased in part by Indianapolis philanthropist, Emil Deitz and the school children of his hometown, Fountain City, Indiana
who collected $50 worth of pennies to purchase the work. The painting is still owned by the Northeastern Wayne School Corporation.
In 2007, the Richmond Art Museum
mounted the largest exhibition of his work ever compiled.
Richmond Group
The Richmond Group also known as the Richmond School, is a group of American Impressionist painters who worked in the Richmond, Indiana area from the late 19th Century through the mid-20th Century...
in Richmond, Indiana
Richmond, Indiana
Richmond is a city largely within Wayne Township, Wayne County, in east central Indiana, United States, which borders Ohio. The city also includes the Richmond Municipal Airport, which is in Boston Township and separated from the rest of the city...
.
Conner is considered as one of the most talented early Richmond artists. He was self-taught and began his career as an industrial painter for the Hoosier Drill Company where he painted decorations and small landscape scenes on farm machinery.
Conner became a close friend with painter John Elwood Bundy
John Elwood Bundy
John Elwood Bundy was an American Impressionist painter known as the "dean" of the Richmond Group of painters in the late 19th and early 20th centuries....
and exhibited his works alongside the Richmond Group artists. He was a plein-air painter and often spent long periods of time living in a tent and painting outdoors. In 1887, he moved to California with his brother Albert, also a painter. He spent the next eight years painting the Pacific Coast before he would return to Richmond. It was during this time that his painting improved immensely.
In 1904, Conner made a place for himself in the art world by having his masterpiece, “Wet Night in February” exhibited in the main hall of the St. Louis World’s Fair alongside works by nationally recognized artists.
Yet despite his talent and recognition, the most Conner ever received in his lifetime for a work was $150. This work, “The Old Swimming Hole” was purchased in part by Indianapolis philanthropist, Emil Deitz and the school children of his hometown, Fountain City, Indiana
Fountain City, Indiana
Fountain City, formerly Newport, is a town in Wayne County, Indiana, United States. The population was 796 at the 2010 census. It was formerly known as Newport...
who collected $50 worth of pennies to purchase the work. The painting is still owned by the Northeastern Wayne School Corporation.
In 2007, the Richmond Art Museum
Richmond Art Museum
The Richmond Art Museum was founded in 1898 as the Art Association of Richmond, Indiana. Artist John Elwood Bundy was instrumental in the founding.- Permanent Collection :...
mounted the largest exhibition of his work ever compiled.