Charles Edward Chambers
Charles Edward Chambers
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Charles Edward Chambers

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Charles Edward Chambers

Charles Edward Chambers (August 9, 1883 - November 5, 1941) was an American illustrator and classical painter. He is most-known for his Chesterfield cigarettes advertisements and Steinway & Sons portraits that ran during the early 1900s. Chambers also illustrated stories for writers W. Somerset Maugham and Pearl S. Buck, among others. These appeared in various magazines including, Cosmopolitan, Harper's, and Redbook.

Chambers was born on August 9, 1883, in Ottumwa, Iowa to Horatio Cox Chambers (1849-1914) and Rosa A. Lee Chambers (1849-1920). He had one sibling, Helen Lee Chambers (1880-1899).

Chambers received his education in art from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Later, he attended the National Academy of Design, where he studied under George Bridgman.

One of Chambers' teachers was Fanny Musnell (1884-1920). She was an illustrator for national magazines including, Cosmopolitan and Woman's Home Companion. Her style of illustration influenced Chambers, and the two would eventually marry. They remained together till her death in 1920.

Chambers later remarried to Pauline True (1912-?), the model from his 1933 Red Cross painting.

On November 4, 1941, Chambers died in New York, New York. He is buried in Ottumwa Cemetery in Iowa.

In the beginning of his career, Chambers illustrated a short story series centered on con man, Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford. Throughout his career, he would continue to illustrate short stories for writers, Pearl Buck, Louis Bromfield, Faith Baldwin, and W. Somerset Maugham. These would appear in the magazines, Harper's, Cosmopolitan, Woman's Home Companion, Ladies' Home Journal, and McCall's.

Chambers' illustrations worked for both advertisements and editorial assignments. He would frequently contribute to Harper's Monthly; many times his illustrations wound up on the cover. His illustrations also appeared on the cover of Redbook magazine. For years, Chambers had an exclusive contract with Cosmopolitan magazine.

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