Charles Mente.
Charles Mente, a popular illustrator, comes of a musical family, and so narrowly escaped being a musician instead of an artist. He was born in New York city, educated in the public schools and afterward learned wood-carving, making figureheads and ornamental work on furniture. This work was not to his taste, however, so he entered the credit department of A. T. Stewart’s store, New York city. This was even more distasteful, and, resigning, he spent his evenings attending Cooper institute art classes, and later the art students’ league. At that time all illustrations were drawn on wood. Mr. Mente’s first drawing was for Harper & Brothers, and was successful, and for two years he worked for that firm. By the end of that period he had managed to save about $1,500, with which he went abroad to study in Munich at the Royal academy. There he received a medal, with honorable mention. Coming back to New York, he was engaged as a teacher of painting at the Gotham art students’ league, but gave up this position to devote himself to painting and illustration. He has received first prize at the exposition of the Chicago society of artists, a gold medal of the Art club of Philadelphia in 1895, and a diploma of excellence and silver medal at the Cotton States’ international exposition, Atlanta, Georgia, in 1895. Mr. Mente’s reputation rests to a great extent on his pictures based on inspirational subjects.