Caffin, Charles H. (Charles Henry), 1854-1918

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American author and art critic; b. in England; moved to Chicago in 1892 and to New York, 1897, where he became art critic of Harper's Weekly, New York Sun, and other publications.

From the description of Charles Caffin review of Marsden Hartley, 1917 Jan. 29. (Maine Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 308679374

Charles Henry Caffin (1854-1918) was an art critic from New York, N.Y.

Charles Caffin was an early supporter of the Photo-Secessionists and modern art. Born in England, trained at Oxford, he came to the U.S. in 1892. He was primarily a journalist, writing and contributing to many publications, including "Camera Work." Caffin wrote many books about art, drama, and dance, including "Photography as Fine Art" (1901), "American Masters of Painting" (1902), "How to Study Pictures" (1905), and "Art for Life's Sake" (1913).

From the description of Charles Henry Caffin papers, circa 1883-1973, bulk 1883-1918. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 430379983

Art critic; New York, N.Y.; b. 1854; d. 1918

Caffin was an early supporter of the Photo-Secessionists and modern art. Born in England, trained at Oxford, he came to the U.S. in 1892. He was primarily a journalist, writing and contributing to many publications, including CAMERA WORK. He wrote several books, including PHOTOGRAPHY AS A FINE ART (1901) and THE APPRECIATION OF DRAMA (1908).

From the description of Charles Henry Caffin papers, ca. 1883-1973. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 84169988

Charles Henry Caffin was born in 1854 in England. After graduating from Oxford University, Caffin served as stage manager for outdoor productions with Ben Greet and His Shakespearean Players. During this time, he met actress Caroline Scurfield, whom he later married and had two daughters, Freda and Donna. Caffin moved to United States in 1892 where he began to write about art, drama, and dance. He was an early supporter of the Photo-Secessionists and American modern art.

Initially, Caffin worked for several years executing murals from designs prepared by other artists for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago and the new Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Shortly thereafter, however, he began writing for Alfred Stieglitz's Camera Notes and later Camera Work . He moved to the New York City area and worked as a critic for the New York Evening Post, New York Sun, and later for the New York American . Caffin wrote many books about art, drama, and dance, including Photography as Fine Art (1901), American Masters of Painting (1902), How to Study Pictures (1905), and Art for Life's Sake (1913).

Charles Caffin died in 1918.

From the guide to the Charles Henry Caffin papers, circa 1883-1973, bulk 1883-1918, (Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution)

Archival Resources
RoleTitleHolding Repository
creatorOf Charles Henry Caffin papersArchives of American Art
referencedIn Elwell, Frank Edwin, 1858-1922. Letters from sculptors, from the correspondence files of the Curator of Ancient & Modern Statuary ; Miscellaneous letters from the correspondence files of the Curator of Ancient & Modern Statuary, 1892-1904.Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Caffin, Charles Henry, 1854-1918. Charles Caffin review of Marsden Hartley, 1917 Jan. 29.Maine Historical Society Library
creatorOf Caffin, Charles H. (Charles Henry), 1854-1918. Charles Caffin letter to F.E. Elwell, 1903.Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Charles Lang Freer selected papersArchives of American Art
creatorOf Caffin, Charles H. (Charles Henry), 1854-1918. Letter, Oct. 27, New York City [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, New York City. / Charles Henry Caffin.Wagner College, Horrmann Library
referencedIn Charles Lang Freer Papers, 1876-1931Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives
creatorOf Caffin, Charles H.. Caffin, Charles H. : [photography bio file].Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Olaf Brauner lettersArchives of American Art
referencedIn Weir, John Ferguson, 1841-1926. John Ferguson Weir papers, 1838-1957 (inclusive), 1861-1928 (bulk).Yale University Library
Bibliographic and Digital Archival Resources
RoleTitleHolding Repository
RelationName
associatedWithAndreyev, Leonid, 1871-1919. person
associatedWithBrauner, Olaf M., 1869-1947. person
associatedWithCorn, Wanda M. person
associatedWithElwell, Frank Edwin, 1858-1922. person
associatedWithFreer, Charles Lang, 1854-1919. person
associatedWithGenthe, Arnold, 1869-1942, person
associatedWithGreet, Ben, Sir, 1857-1936. person
associatedWithHartley, Marsden, 1877-1943 person
associatedWithJohnston, Frances Benjamin, 1864-1952, person
associatedWithKäsebier, Gertrude, 1852-1934, person
associatedWithKennedy, Charles Rann, 1871- person
associatedWithLayton, Donna Caffin. person
associatedWithMarkham, Edwin, 1852-1940, person
associatedWithSteichen, Edward, 1879-1973, person
associatedWithStieglitz, Alfred, 1864-1946, person
associatedWithWeir, John Ferguson, 1841-1926. person
Place NameAdmin CodeCountry
New York (State)--New York
Maine--Lewiston
New York (State)--New York
United States
Subject
Art, Modern
Theater
Art, American
Art critics
Art critics
Artists
Photographers
Photography, Artistic
Occupation
Art critics
Photographers
Activity

Person

Birth 1854-06-04

Death 1918-01-14

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