Edwin Augustus Harleston

Place: Charleston

Born: 1882

Death: 1931

Biography:

Edwin Augustus Harleston was an American artist and founding president of the Charleston, South Carolina, branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He is known for his realistic portraits inspired by classical paintings. He was born in Charleston, South Carolina, on March 14, 1882, to Louisa Moultrie Harleston and Edwin Gaillard Harleston, a prosperous former coastal schooner captain who owned the Harleston Funeral Home. His mother traced her lineage through several generations of free people of color, while his father was descended from a white planter and one of his slaves.

Early Life and Education

He won a scholarship to study at the Avery Normal Institute, from which he graduated as valedictorian in 1900. He went on to Atlanta University, where he studied chemistry and sociology and took courses under W. E. B. Du Bois, who became a lifelong friend. After graduating in 1904, Harleston stayed on for a year as a teaching assistant in both sociology and chemistry while planning the next step in his education.

Artistic Career

He was admitted to Harvard University, but instead chose to attend the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Edwin also attended the Art Institute of Chicago over the summer. All of his art teachers were white. He returned to South Carolina in 1913 to help his father run the family funeral home, continuing to do so until 1931, the year both he and his father died.

Notable Works

One of his notable works is Portrait of Aaron Douglas, which can be found at the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, United States. This painting showcases Harleston's skill in capturing the essence of his subjects.

• Realistic portraits inspired by classical paintings.
• Excluded from the whites-only artistic movement known as the Charleston Renaissance.
• Active in local civil rights groups and president of Charleston's newly formed branch of the NAACP.

Legacy

Edwin Augustus Harleston's legacy continues to be celebrated through his artwork, which can be found at various museums, including the Gibbes Museum of Art. His contributions to the art world and his role in the civil rights movement make him a significant figure in American history. For more information on Edwin Augustus Harleston and his work, visit https://Wikioo.org/@/Edwin-Augustus-Harleston or check out the Wikipedia page on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Harleston.