Charles Dana Gibson Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Charles Dana Gibson
Gibson c. 1900
Born	(1867-09-14)September 14, 1867 Roxbury, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	December 23, 1944(1944-12-23) (aged 77) New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Education	Art Students League of New York
Known for	Illustration
Notable work	Gibson Girl series
Spouse(s)	Irene Langhorne (m. 1895)

Charles Dana Gibson (born September 14, 1867 – died December 23, 1944) was a famous American artist who drew pictures. He was most famous for creating the Gibson Girl. This was a popular drawing of a beautiful and strong young woman from the early 1900s.

His wife, Irene Langhorne, and her four sisters helped inspire his drawings. He published his art in Life magazine and other big magazines for over 30 years. He later became the editor and then the owner of Life magazine.

Early Life of Charles Dana Gibson
Charles Dana Gibson's Career
Charles Dana Gibson's Family Life
- Charles Dana Gibson's Legacy
Work
See also

Early Life of Charles Dana Gibson

Gibson was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts on September 14, 1867. His parents were Josephine Elizabeth Lovett and Charles DeWolf Gibson. He had five brothers and sisters. His family included important people like U.S. Senators James DeWolf and William Bradford.

Charles was a talented young artist and loved art from an early age. His parents sent him to the Art Students League in New York City. He studied there for two years to improve his skills.

Charles Dana Gibson's Career

Gibson Girl, created 1898

Gibson started his career by selling his pen-and-ink drawings. In 1886, he sold his first drawing to Life magazine. This magazine was started by John Ames Mitchell and Andrew Miller. It featured interesting articles, jokes, and cartoons. Gibson's drawings appeared weekly in this popular magazine for more than 30 years.

He quickly became well-known. His art was shown in all the major New York magazines. These included Harper's Weekly, Scribners, and Collier's. He also drew pictures for books. Some of these were the 1898 editions of Anthony Hope's The Prisoner of Zenda and Rupert of Hentzau. He also illustrated Richard Harding Davis' book Gallegher and Other Stories.

Their First Quarrel, 1914

His wife and her stylish sisters, the Langhorne sisters, also inspired his famous Gibson Girls. These drawings became very popular images in society during the early 1900s. Their father, Chiswell Langhorne, had lost much of his money. But by the late 1800s, he had become rich again from selling tobacco and working in the railroad business.

After John Ames Mitchell passed away in 1918, Gibson became the editor of Life magazine. Later, he even became the owner of the magazine. After World War I, the Gibson Girl drawings became less popular. Gibson then started painting with oils for his own enjoyment. In 1918, he joined the National Academy of Design. He became a full member in 1932.

He stopped working in 1936. That same year, a book about his life was published. It was called Portrait of an Era as Drawn by C. D. Gibson: A Biography. When he died in 1944, he was known as "the most famous pen-and-ink artist of his time." People also praised his later paintings.

Charles Dana Gibson's Family Life

Gibson and his wife, Irene Langhorne, around 1925

On November 7, 1895, Gibson married Irene Langhorne (1873–1956). She was the daughter of a railroad businessman named Chiswell Langhorne. Irene was born in Danville, Virginia. She was one of five sisters, all known for their beauty. One of her sisters was Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor. Nancy was the first woman to be a Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons.

Irene and Charles had two children:

Irene Langhorne Gibson (1897–1973), who married George Browne Post III in 1916. They later divorced. She then married John Josiah Emery in 1926.
Langhorne Gibson (1899–1982), who married Marion Taylor in 1922. He later married Parthenia Burke Ross in 1936.

For some time, Gibson lived in New Rochelle, New York. This area was a popular place for artists, writers, and actors. It was especially known for having many famous American illustrators. Gibson also owned an island near Islesboro, Maine. This island became known as 700 Acre Island. He and his wife spent more and more time there over the years.

Gibson passed away in 1944 from a heart problem. He was 77 years old. He died at his home in New York City. After a private funeral, he was buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His wife passed away at her home in Greenwood, Virginia in April 1956. She was 83.

Charles Dana Gibson's Legacy

Gibson's unique drawings were used on many different products. The Gibson cocktail is said to be named after him. This is because he supposedly liked to order gin martinis with a pickled onion instead of an olive or lemon peel.