Charles Courtney Curran (Born in 1861) was an early American Impressionist who was memorable both for his well-designed exterior and interior portraits of children and women, as well as for his role as a leader at the Cragsmoor Art Colony. Courtney Curran is often compared to Edmund Charles Tarbell, Frank Benson, and Mary Cassatt, fellow American Impressionists. His iconic paintings which feature graceful young women in dresses that are flowing are set against the background of vast expanse of nature. His art captivate his contemporaries and the public, as well as art critics. In his impressionistic technique, he utilizes a vivid palette and loose brushstrokes which he combines with his wistful subject matter to put in a nutshell the relaxing summer beauty of Cragsmoor. Courtney Curran was born in Hartford, Kentucky but he was raised in Sandusky, Ohio.
The artist studied at the Cincinnati School of Design under Noble B. Thomas for a year before he moved to New York City in 1882. Here, he attended the National Academy of Design before he joined Art Students League where he studied under Satterlee Walter. When he was 23 years old, he made his public appearance at the Academy of Design. Here, he showcased his work and this event has been a passionate remainder of his career at the early stages. In 1887, his art also began being exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy and this is where he continued to show his work for nearly 30 years. In 1889, he left for Paris where he studied under Lefebvre Jules at the Académie Julian.
