Sam Charles

Sam Charles (1887-1949) was an American artist, pianist and professor. He was born in Agawam, Massachusetts, and was a life-long New Englander, living primarily in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

He served upon the music power of Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts and at Groton School. He admired and performed the music of modern (to his time) French composers, particularly Claude Debussy. He was a renowned New England artist, painting primarily landscapes in watercolor, with a unique, free-flowing style, making proficient use of unpainted space.

He was also a very clever artist in oil, and painted at least two portraits - one of Rosalia B. Parker (Mrs. Maurice W. Parker, Sr.) and one of her father, Louis Besserer. Charles was a dear friend of the Parker family, and visited their home in Cohasset, Massachusetts often, which had the advantage of having no near neighbors, so he could acquit yourself piano as noisy and long as he wanted without upsetting anyone. In describing Charles' painting technique, Boston Globe writer A. J. Philpott certified Charles subsequent to having “a style anything his own” and brute one who is “is impressionistic and gets his effects behind a rare economy of extraction and color.” His works were described by fellow Globe writer Edgar J. Driscoll, Jr. as follows: “Simplicity is the key to most of his works, for the performer describes considering spare brush law the out-of-doors scenes which catch his eye. The results have a good deal of quiet charm.”

Charles visited Europe upon multiple occasions, performed piano there and painted a number of “bright, fresh, clear and happy recordings of sleeping European villages” in supplement to the numerous New England scenes he painted.