Carles, Arthur Beecher

Arthur Beecher Carles
Born Pennsylvania, 1882
Died Pennsylvania, 1952

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Arthur Carles received his formal training at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Carles’ early work shows strong influence from William Merritt Chase, whom he studied under at the Academy. During his six years at the Pennsylvania Academy, Carles also studied with several other artists including Cecilia Beaux, Hugh Breckenridge, and Henry McCarter. Also during this time, Carles made his first trip to Europe through a traveling Scholarship. He left the Academy in 1907 with a prize for best figure composition, and an additional scholarship for two years of study abroad.

Carles was able to extend his scholarship to over three years, during which time he lived and worked primarily in France. In Paris, Carles viewed the Cezanne’s memorial exhibition which proved to be highly influential throughout his career. In 1908, Carles became a founding member of the New Society of American Artists in Paris before returning to Philadelphia in 1910. The following year, he exhibited in Philadelphia and later in Paris where he visited in 1912.

Carles taught at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts between 1917 and 1925. During that time, Carles was instrumental in introducing German Expressionism and Parisian Modernism to the United States. Carles was an important early Modernist and developed his own style. A critic for the New York Times has credited Carles as a founder of the Abstract Expressionist movement. After he left the Pennsylvania Academy, Carles continued his career as an influential teacher through lessons he gave in his studio.

Carles’ work has been displayed in several group and select solo exhibitions including those held at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; the Armory Show; at 291 Gallery in New York; the Art Institute of Chicago; the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco; Montross Gallery in New York; and at the Art Club of Philadelphia.

Carles’ career ended in 1941 after he suffered a stroke and an alcohol-related fall that rendered him partially paralyzed.

After 1946, Carles lived in nursing homes until his death in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, in 1952.