Charlotte Harding facts for kids

Charlotte Harding (1873–1951) was a talented American artist. She was famous for drawing pictures for magazines and books. You might know some of the magazines she worked for, like The Saturday Evening Post and Harper's Bazaar. She also drew amazing pictures for classic books, including Robin Hood.

Even after she married James A. Brown in 1905, she kept signing her artwork with her maiden name, Charlotte Harding. In her personal life, she was known as Charlotte Harding Brown.

Charlotte Harding's Early Life

Charlotte Harding was born on August 31, 1873. Her birthplace was Newark, New Jersey. Her parents were Joseph and Charlotte Elizabeth Harding.

In 1880, Charlotte moved to Philadelphia. She went to public schools there. Her younger brother, George Matthews Harding, also became a well-known artist. He was an illustrator too.

How Charlotte Harding Studied Art

Charlotte studied art from 1893 to 1894. She went to the Philadelphia School of Design for Women. There, she learned from a famous teacher named Robert Henri.

She was a very good student. She won the George W. Childs gold medal. She also received the Horstman Fellowship. The next year, she even taught at the school!

Charlotte continued her studies from 1894 to 1895. She received a fellowship at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. She also studied with Howard Pyle at the Drexel Institute of Illustration until 1900.

Howard Pyle was a very important teacher. Charlotte was one of his first and most noted students. Her drawings were shown at Drexel in 1897 and 1898. One of her works was even chosen for a special book.

Charlotte Harding's Art Career

A 'quick change' for the rest of the afternoon, circa 1901. This drawing was for The Century Magazine in 1901.

After finishing her studies, Charlotte Harding opened an art studio. It was in Philadelphia, and she shared it with another artist, Alice Barber Stephens.

Charlotte drew pictures for many popular magazines. These included Good Housekeeping, Harper's Bazaar, The Ladies' Home Journal, McClure's Magazine, The Saturday Evening Post, and The Century Magazine.

She was part of a special time in art history. This time is called the Golden Age of Illustration. It lasted from about 1890 to 1920. During this period, many beautiful illustrations were made for books and magazines.

Many women artists were important during this time. They drew for "important British and American books." Some of these artists were Jessie Willcox Smith, Elizabeth Shippen Green, and Violet Oakley. Charlotte Harding was one of them.

One of Charlotte's famous illustrations is called Algy. She drew it for a poem about a boy. The boy preferred kisses from his mother over the family dog.

Charlotte was also a founding member of The Plastic Club in 1897. She was a member until 1913. She also belonged to the Philadelphia Watercolor Club.

She won several awards for her art. In 1900, she received silver medals at the Woman's Exposition in London. She also won honors and prizes at the 1915 St. Louis Exposition.

Charlotte continued to sign her artwork as "Carolyn Harding." She had her art studio and lived in Holmesburg, Philadelphia. She stopped illustrating in 1917.

Charlotte Harding's Family Life

In 1905, Charlotte Harding married James Adams Brown. He was an engineer. They had a daughter named Charlotte Adams Brown.

Charlotte Harding passed away on November 1, 1951. She died in Smithtown, New York.

Images for kids

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  Basket Ball, Bryn Mawr, 1903. This drawing was for an article about college girls' sports.

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  Algy, 1905. This illustration was for a book of poems for children.