Charles Adams Platt was an American landscape architect, painter, and etcher.
Background
He was born on October 16, 1861 in Connecticut, United States. He was the son of John H. Platt, a prosperous New York lawyer, a man of wit, charm, and cultivation, and of Mary Elizabeth (Cheney), of the family of silk manufacturers of South Manchester, Connecticut.
The Platt and Cheney children grew up together, and among them Charles's wit and ingenuity made him a leader. When about fifteen years old he became absorbed in painting landscapes in Connecticut and about the Platt summer home at Rhinebeck, New York.
Education
His art training began at the National Academy of Design and the Art Students' League, New York. Stephen Parrish encouraged him to take up etching. In 1882 he was in Julian's atelier in Paris, studying under Boulanger and Lefebvre.
Career
He exhibited in the Salon of 1885 in Paris.
In 1887 he returned to America. After the death of his wife in 1888 he joined his friend H. O. Walker at Cornish, New Hampshire, where Saint-Gaudens had established his summer home and workshop, and whither Kenyon Cox, T. W. Dewing, George de Forest Brush, Herbert Adams, Maxfield Parrish, and Norman Hapgood also repaired.
With his younger brother, William Barnes Platt, Charles went to Italy in 1892 to study Renaissance gardens. Shortly after their return William died. Charles published the results of their careful studies and measurements, first in Harper's Magazine (July-August 1893) and afterwards in his book, Italian Gardens (1894). From the Renaissance builders he had learned the lesson that "villa" connotes a house and gardens, devised as a unity for the enjoyment and comfort of the owner.
At Cornish he built for himself a "villa" so simple and charming in its architecture and so satisfying in its gardens and landscape setting that friends there and elsewhere besought him to build also for them. Thus he glided into the vocation of architecture, while still finding an avocation in painting and etching.
In association with Charles L. Freer he designed the Freer Gallery in Washington, built after a fashion reminiscent of Florence. A town house on Crescent Place with a broad terrace overlooking the city, the Parmalee suburban estate, the architectural setting for Herbert Adams' McMillan Fountain, and a carefully planned addition to the Corcoran Art Gallery complete the list of his Washington works.
Between 1922 and 1930 he made the general plan and designed nine buildings for the University of Illinois; and in 1930 he planned the Deerfield, Massachussets, Academy. Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Rochester called him into consultation over their plans; the seminary at Northfield, Massachussets, and the college for women and the Lyman Allyn Museum at New London, Connecticut, have buildings he designed. The Leader-News building, Cleveland, is his most significant commercial structure. His most characteristic work, combining architecture and landscaping, was the rebuilding of Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachussets.
With Guy Lowell, he made a comprehensive plan in 1923, and two years later designed George Washington Hall. After Lowell's death in 1927, Platt became the supervising architect of the school buildings. Unhampered as to expense, he remodeled, moved, or removed old buildings, and built halls, commons, library, art gallery (selecting the paintings), and chapel as one organized composition, all in Colonial Georgian style. For the American World War cemetery at Suresnes, he built a chapel architecturally as much at home in France as it would be in America.
In 1928 he succeeded Elihu Root as president of the Century Association and W. R. Mead as president of the American Academy in Rome.
Platt died in Cornish, New Hampshire at the age of 72.
Achievements
Charles Adams Platt was a popular American artist, as a member of the national Commission of Fine Arts, he had large part in shaping the details of Meridian Hill Park, an American approximation of an Italian hillside garden with elaborate water effects. He also prepared plans for a National Gallery of Art, to be built at some future date. His own garden in Cornish exemplifies a new style, essentially an Arts and Crafts setting for Beaux-Arts Neo-Georgian and Colonial Revival architecture.
He received medals for both painting and etching at the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, in 1893, and in 1894 the Webb prize for landscape from the Society of American Artists.
Membership
He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a fellow of the American Institute of Architects, a member of the Society of American Etchers and of the British Society of Etchers.
Personality
By nature and training a traditionalist, Platt transcended tradition by his individuality and charm.
Connections
On April 10, 1886 he married Anne C. Hoe, daughter of Richard March Hoe.
With his second wife, Eleanor Hardy Bunker (widow of Dennis Miller Bunker), whom Platt married in 1893, Platt had five children. Among the children were William (1897–1984) and Geoffrey (1905–1985), who followed in their father's footsteps and practiced architecture in New York City.
