Background
Charles Franklin Chamberlain was born June 12, 1871 in Webster Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan to Benjamin Franklin and Almira (Taylor) Chamberlain. He died March 19, 1947 in Pinckney, Livingston County, and is buried in Dexter, Michigan. He married Cacia Smith Curtiss of Fowlerville, Michigan on April 7, 1912. Cacia was a school teacher in Howell.
Charles studied in Chicago, Detroit, New York, and Paris. Charles attended art school at the Detroit Academy, and in 1892-93 went off to study at the Art Students League of New York. The Ann Arbor Argus noted his return in June of 1893 stating that "Charles is a fine artist."
It was in Detroit as well as in New York that Charles made many connections in the art world and soon was determined to make his way to Paris to further his studies. Charles' first trip to France was in 1894 and he concentrated his studies at the Academic Julian, Montmartre, Paris as well as at the newer Aman-Jean School. He spent several years in France studying under the old masters, following the impressionist influence of the time.
Charles traveled extensively. His home was located near Dexter, Michigan where he operated a chicken and honey farm, being an early practitioner of the concept “artificial hatching”. In 1919 he received an appointment as instructor in Architectural Drawing, College of Engineering, University of Michigan. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His later years included overseeing the three Chamberlain farms in Webster Township, as his two brothers had preceded him in death. At the age of 66 he sold out, retired, and bought a home a few miles down the road in the village of Pinckney. There he died at the age of 75.
Charles had pieces shown at the Detroit Institute of Art in 1903 and according to the book "T.C. Steele and the Society of Western Artists" by Rachel Berenson Perry (ISBN 9780253352934), Charles exhibited paintings during the following shows through the SWA:
1903-1904 Society of Western Artists Eighth Annual Exhibit
Chamberlain, Charles F. - Dexter, Mich.
A Winter Thaw
1906-1907 Society of Western Artists Eleventh Annual Exhibit
Chamberlain, Charles F. - Dexter, Mich.
The Storm Cloud
The Mill Pond
1908-1909 Society of Western Artists Thirteenth Exhibit
Chamberlain, Charles F. - Dexter, Mich.
The Corn Field
The 1906-07 exhibition was reviewed by Walter M. Clute in the November 1907 Sketch Book (Vol. 6, No. 6). On page 294 he states: "Two landscapes by Charles Chamberlain, refined in color, very high in key but swimming in real light and air, are well worth one's study."