Charles Calistus Burleigh, Jr.: Exquisite Painter
Charles Calistus Burleigh, Jr. Basics
b. November 14, 1848, Bristol, Pennsylvania
d. December 5, 1882, Cologne, Germany
m. Ida A. Aldrich (1855-1955), September 2, 1878, Northampton, Massachusetts
lived in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Germany
I. Charles Calistus Burleigh, Jr.
Charles Calistus Burleigh, Jr. was a talented painter who would likely be better known had he not died at a young age. The second son, and middle child of three, born to Charles C. & Gertrude Kimber Burleigh, Charles, Jr. inculcated the Burleigh universe of activism and aesthetics from a young age. In addition to his obvious visual arts skills, he also published a few poems. He and his older brother Edward Davis Burleigh married a pair of sisters - Edward wedded Florence Aldrich, and Charles Jr. married Ida Aldrich. The Aldrich sisters both lived long lives into the mid-20th century, and so were able to make valuable archival contributions, especially at Historic Northampton, reflecting the lives of their husbands and their own activism too.
II. Connecticut Sojourn
Charles C. Burleigh Jr. was born while his parents were still based in Pennsylvania, but that changed when he turned six, and his family moved to Plainfield, Connecticut, to take their turn in elder care and farm work. He lived in Plainfield with grandfather Rinaldo, getting to interact with his aunt Mary, Uncle Lucian, and various cousins.
III. Northampton Family and Local Renown
IV. Germany
German Museum Document
Document signed by the first director of the Royal National Gallery in Berling - Max Jordan - indicating that Charles C. Burleigh has been given permission to exhibit a work from the collection of the museum. Dated 1881.
Royal National Gallery
The Royal National Gallery of Berlin, sketched in the 1890s, before the triumphalist equestrian statue of a Prussian ruler was placed at the top of the steps!
V. Painting - Style, Highlights, Critical Assessment
VI. Legacy
VII. Poetry
Charles C. Burleigh Jr. chose wisely in favoring his visual gifts to his poetry. But this poem, written as a New Year's gift to his wife in what would turn out to be his final year, is touching.
Happy New Year to Ida (1882)
Dear Wife, my pride and hearts desire.
The sweet companion of my days,
When I would seek for words of praise
To set thy loveliness the higher,
I look into thy gentle eyes
Deep down to depths of purest love,
And see reflected from above,
The love which dwelleth in the skies.
Yet Oh! So humanly divine.
Is that divine reflection there,
It warms like softest summer air,
Yet will not let high faith decline
And, silently I bend the knee
In Spirit, and this tribute bring,
I can no fitting praises sing
But life is sweet because of thee
C.C Burleigh
References
Charles Calistus Burleigh, Jr. "Happy New Year," manuscript, dated 1882. Held by Historic Northampton, 1998.13.361.
Fuller biographical and artistic information will be added to this page as the materials are gathered. His wife's longevity, his regional renown as an artist, and his own documentation of his writings, has given us a cornucopia of material to work through to assemble a complete picture of Charles C. Burleigh Jr.
