E. Charlton Fortune
Encyclopedia
E. Charlton Fortune was a famous California
artist within the style of American Impressionism
. Taught by William Merritt Chase
and Arthur Frank Mathews
, she achieved international fame for her paintings. Later in life she turned to liturgical design, receiving further recognition in this second genre
.
, Marin County
, California. Her father was a Scot, William Ranken Fortune, and her mother was a native of San Francisco, Helen Hersberg. She eschewed her given name Euphemia, and initially selected the nickname Effie. Having a cleft palate, as did her father, Effie resolved to remain celibate, lest the trait be passed on. Her family was well to do financially and gave her a life of European travel from early on. By age four she was practiced in formal etiquette and clever intellectual conversation followed soon. She regularly visited her father's original home in Barnsmuir, Scotland
.
When she was age nine, her father died; tragically, she was sent to boarding school in Scotland, while her mother and brother moved to Los Angeles
. She spent six sad years attending Saint Margaret's Convent; however, after a while her Scottish aunts commissioned a denture to be made to help conceal her cleft palate, improving her appearance and state of mind.
. She became integrated into the fabric of the thriving San Francisco art community and fraternized with Armin Hansen
, Maynard Dixon
, Maurice Logan and others. Fortune began signing her paintings "Charlton", which mddle name was from her grandmother. In 1905 she was enrolled in the Saint John's Wood School of Art in London
.
wrought great loss on the Fortune family, including destruction of all of her paintings. The family then decided to relocate to New York City
, where she commenced studies at the Art Students League
. Frank Vincent DuMond was a favorite teacher from whom she learned the importance of expressing her own individuality; from the South American Luis Mora she learned the skills of an illustrator. Fortune often painted at Lake George
with DuMond. As she sought out further outdoor venues, she was invited by Spencer Trask
to paint at Woodstock in the Catskill Mountains
. She was elected women's vice president of the Art Student's League and contributed some illustrations to Harpers Magazine
.
and the more current Cubism
. Nonetheless, her own painting continued true to her own style of using light, continuous line and movement. Back in San Francisco, she now had over forty paintings, and immersed herself in portraiture, with an emphasis on child subjects. An example of her work in this era is Portrait of a Young Lady (1919). In 1913 and for the following six summers, Effie and her mother vacationed in Monterey
. 1914 was the year she attracted William Merritt Chase
to Monterey to view her work and give her lessons. That summer she painted Summer, which is now in the permanent collection of the California Palace of the Legion of Honor
. Between 1916 and 1920 she taught art classes, but without distinguishing herself in the role of instructor.
During World War I
she did volunteer work for the American Red Cross
, and, in general, she was a well known eccentric personality flitting between San Francisco and Monterey. She was often seen riding her bicycle donned in a corduroy suit and Belgian shoes with shiny buckles; eventually she procured a motor vehicle, which she nicknamed "Blasphemia". In 1920 Fortune was elected to the National Academy of Design
.
. Among her paintings of this period was Saint Tropez, produced in 1926. After early 1927 she had chosen Monterey for her home. This decision marked the beginning of her liturgical art career. Fortune produced many religious art compositions, but one hallmark was the painted interior of Saint Angelas Church in Pacific Grove
. For the last 25 years of her life, liturgical art was Fortune's focus; she became a leader of the Monterey Guild who produced high quality religious art in numerous churches. Beginning in 1927, Fortune was active in the Carmel Art Association. Angel Rescuing Saint Peter (1947) is an example of her later work. Fortune served as artist-in-residence at Portsmouth Priory (now Portsmouth Abbey School) in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, from 1947-48 and designed the tabernacle that now resides in the Abbey's Church of St. Gregory the Great.
A play on Fortune, "Fortune's Way, or Notes on Art for Catholics (and Others)", by Steve Hauk premiered in California in staged readings in 2010 at the Carmel Mission, San Carlos Borromeo. Performances followed at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, Carmel; the Monterey Museum of Art, the Pacific Grove Public Library and in the summer of 2011 it was performed at The Carmel Art Association this performance is thought to be a first in Carmel Art Association's 84-year history. The play is set after the artist has turned to liturgical work and as she looks back at her life while giving a lecture. The title role was played by Teresa Del Piero, with John Brady as a bishop. Conrad Selvig staged the production. Future presentations are pending, including a possible European production. The full text of the play with photographs is carried on the Traditional Fine Arts Organization, Inc. [website].
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
artist within the style of American Impressionism
American Impressionism
Impressionism, a style of painting characterized by loose brushwork and vivid colors, was practiced widely among American artists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.-An emerging artistic style from Paris:...
. Taught by William Merritt Chase
William Merritt Chase
William Merritt Chase was an American painter known as an exponent of Impressionism and as a teacher. He is also responsible for establishing the Chase School, which later would become Parsons The New School for Design.- Early life and training :He was born in Williamsburg , Indiana, to the family...
and Arthur Frank Mathews
Arthur Frank Mathews
Arthur F. Mathews was an American Tonalist painter who was one of the founders of the American Arts and Crafts Movement. Trained as an architect and artist, he and his wife Lucia Kleinhans Mathews had a significant effect on the evolution of Californian art in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
, she achieved international fame for her paintings. Later in life she turned to liturgical design, receiving further recognition in this second genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
.
Early years
Fortune was born in SausalitoSausalito, California
Sausalito is a San Francisco Bay Area city, in Marin County, California, United States. Sausalito is south-southeast of San Rafael, at an elevation of 13 feet . The population was 7,061 as of the 2010 census. The community is situated near the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, and prior to...
, Marin County
Marin County, California
Marin County is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. As of 2010, the population was 252,409. The county seat is San Rafael and the largest employer is the county government. Marin County is well...
, California. Her father was a Scot, William Ranken Fortune, and her mother was a native of San Francisco, Helen Hersberg. She eschewed her given name Euphemia, and initially selected the nickname Effie. Having a cleft palate, as did her father, Effie resolved to remain celibate, lest the trait be passed on. Her family was well to do financially and gave her a life of European travel from early on. By age four she was practiced in formal etiquette and clever intellectual conversation followed soon. She regularly visited her father's original home in Barnsmuir, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
When she was age nine, her father died; tragically, she was sent to boarding school in Scotland, while her mother and brother moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. She spent six sad years attending Saint Margaret's Convent; however, after a while her Scottish aunts commissioned a denture to be made to help conceal her cleft palate, improving her appearance and state of mind.
Return to Northern California
Fortune was reunited with her mother and brother when they all moved to San Francisco in the year 1900. She began art studies at the Mark Hopkins Institute, then directed by Arthur Frank MathewsArthur Frank Mathews
Arthur F. Mathews was an American Tonalist painter who was one of the founders of the American Arts and Crafts Movement. Trained as an architect and artist, he and his wife Lucia Kleinhans Mathews had a significant effect on the evolution of Californian art in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
. She became integrated into the fabric of the thriving San Francisco art community and fraternized with Armin Hansen
Armin Hansen
Armin Hansen , native of San Francisco, is prominent American Painter of the En plein air school, best known for his marine canvases. His father Hermann Hansen was also a famous artist of the American West...
, Maynard Dixon
Maynard Dixon
Maynard Dixon was a 20th-century American artist whose body of work focused on the American West. He was married for a time to American photographer Dorothea Lange.-Biography:...
, Maurice Logan and others. Fortune began signing her paintings "Charlton", which mddle name was from her grandmother. In 1905 she was enrolled in the Saint John's Wood School of Art in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Life in New York
The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake1906 San Francisco earthquake
The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was a major earthquake that struck San Francisco, California, and the coast of Northern California at 5:12 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 1906. The most widely accepted estimate for the magnitude of the earthquake is a moment magnitude of 7.9; however, other...
wrought great loss on the Fortune family, including destruction of all of her paintings. The family then decided to relocate to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where she commenced studies at the Art Students League
Art Students League of New York
The Art Students League of New York is an art school located on West 57th Street in New York City. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists, and has maintained for over 130 years a tradition of offering reasonably priced classes on a...
. Frank Vincent DuMond was a favorite teacher from whom she learned the importance of expressing her own individuality; from the South American Luis Mora she learned the skills of an illustrator. Fortune often painted at Lake George
Lake George (New York)
Lake George, nicknamed the Queen of American Lakes, is a long, narrow oligotrophic lake draining northwards into Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence River Drainage basin located at the southeast base of the Adirondack Mountains in northern New York, U.S.A.. It lies within the upper region of the...
with DuMond. As she sought out further outdoor venues, she was invited by Spencer Trask
Spencer Trask
Spencer Trask was an American financier, philanthropist, and venture capitalist. Beginning in the 1870s, Trask began investing and supporting entrepreneurs, including Thomas Edison's invention of the electric light bulb and his electricity network...
to paint at Woodstock in the Catskill Mountains
Catskill Mountains
The Catskill Mountains, an area in New York State northwest of New York City and southwest of Albany, are a mature dissected plateau, an uplifted region that was subsequently eroded into sharp relief. They are an eastward continuation, and the highest representation, of the Allegheny Plateau...
. She was elected women's vice president of the Art Student's League and contributed some illustrations to Harpers Magazine
Harpers Magazine
Harpers Wine and Spirit Trade Review or simply Harpers is a British fortnightly publication for the wine and spirit industry. Founded in 1878, it has a circulation of 5,224 fully subscribed readers. It is read across all sectors of the drinks industry including producers, distributors,...
.
1910 return to San Francisco
Fortune and her mother re-emerged in San Francisco; moreover, through the help of Luis Mora, Effie gained a position at Sunset Magazine doing illustration. Also in 1910 she travelled to Scotland and to Paris. On that trip she was taken by the 19th century French ImpressionismImpressionism
Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement that originated with a group of Paris-based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence during the 1870s and 1880s...
and the more current Cubism
Cubism
Cubism was a 20th century avant-garde art movement, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, and inspired related movements in music, literature and architecture...
. Nonetheless, her own painting continued true to her own style of using light, continuous line and movement. Back in San Francisco, she now had over forty paintings, and immersed herself in portraiture, with an emphasis on child subjects. An example of her work in this era is Portrait of a Young Lady (1919). In 1913 and for the following six summers, Effie and her mother vacationed in Monterey
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
. 1914 was the year she attracted William Merritt Chase
William Merritt Chase
William Merritt Chase was an American painter known as an exponent of Impressionism and as a teacher. He is also responsible for establishing the Chase School, which later would become Parsons The New School for Design.- Early life and training :He was born in Williamsburg , Indiana, to the family...
to Monterey to view her work and give her lessons. That summer she painted Summer, which is now in the permanent collection of the California Palace of the Legion of Honor
California Palace of the Legion of Honor
The California Palace of the Legion of Honor is a fine art museum in San Francisco, California...
. Between 1916 and 1920 she taught art classes, but without distinguishing herself in the role of instructor.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
she did volunteer work for the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
, and, in general, she was a well known eccentric personality flitting between San Francisco and Monterey. She was often seen riding her bicycle donned in a corduroy suit and Belgian shoes with shiny buckles; eventually she procured a motor vehicle, which she nicknamed "Blasphemia". In 1920 Fortune was elected to the National Academy of Design
National Academy of Design
The National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, founded in New York City as the National Academy of Design – known simply as the "National Academy" – is an honorary association of American artists founded in 1825 by Samuel F. B. Morse, Asher B. Durand, Thomas Cole, Martin E...
.
Europe and then back to Monterey
Fortune, continuing to travel with her mother, visited Europe for the next six years. She had an acclaimed exhibition at the Beaux Arts GalleryBeaux Arts Gallery
Beaux Arts Gallery, London, England, founded in 1923 and closed in 1965, was known as a preeminent center for promoting avant-garde art.Founded and operated by portrait sculptor Frederick Lessore in 1923, the gallery was run by his wife Helen Lessore, a painter, until it closed in 1965...
. Among her paintings of this period was Saint Tropez, produced in 1926. After early 1927 she had chosen Monterey for her home. This decision marked the beginning of her liturgical art career. Fortune produced many religious art compositions, but one hallmark was the painted interior of Saint Angelas Church in Pacific Grove
Pacific Grove, California
Pacific Grove is a coastal city in Monterey County, California, USA, with a population of 15,041 as of the 2010 census, down from 15,522 as of the 2000 census...
. For the last 25 years of her life, liturgical art was Fortune's focus; she became a leader of the Monterey Guild who produced high quality religious art in numerous churches. Beginning in 1927, Fortune was active in the Carmel Art Association. Angel Rescuing Saint Peter (1947) is an example of her later work. Fortune served as artist-in-residence at Portsmouth Priory (now Portsmouth Abbey School) in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, from 1947-48 and designed the tabernacle that now resides in the Abbey's Church of St. Gregory the Great.
A play on Fortune, "Fortune's Way, or Notes on Art for Catholics (and Others)", by Steve Hauk premiered in California in staged readings in 2010 at the Carmel Mission, San Carlos Borromeo. Performances followed at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, Carmel; the Monterey Museum of Art, the Pacific Grove Public Library and in the summer of 2011 it was performed at The Carmel Art Association this performance is thought to be a first in Carmel Art Association's 84-year history. The play is set after the artist has turned to liturgical work and as she looks back at her life while giving a lecture. The title role was played by Teresa Del Piero, with John Brady as a bishop. Conrad Selvig staged the production. Future presentations are pending, including a possible European production. The full text of the play with photographs is carried on the Traditional Fine Arts Organization, Inc. [website].
Permanent collections
E. Charlton fortune is in the permanent collections of the following museums:- California Palace of the Legion of HonorCalifornia Palace of the Legion of HonorThe California Palace of the Legion of Honor is a fine art museum in San Francisco, California...
, (San Francisco Fine Art Museum) - Monterey Museum of ArtMonterey Museum of ArtThe Monterey Museum of Art is the only nationally accredited art museum between Santa Barbara and San Jose. Founded in 1959 as a chapter of the American Federation of Arts, the Museum’s artistic and educational activities have played a significant role in enhancing the quality of life for Monterey...
, Monterey, California