Fiscus+Facts

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1. Charles Joseph Fiscus Fiscus was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 26, 1861.

2. Fiscus went to Chicago for a short time with James Gookins but soon returned to Indianapolis.

3. National Academy of Design Exhibit

4. There is a listing in the 1881 Indianapolis city directory for “Fiscus and Scott .” In that year Charles Fiscus was twenty years old and his partner in the enterprise, Frank Edwin Scott, was eighteen. Although quit young and inexperienced, they apperantly felt they had enough technical ability and business acumen to compete with the professional artists then in the citty at that time. Unfortunately, Fiscus died on February 6, 1884 at the age of 22; too soon to produce very much work or to attain the heights predicted by his colleagues.

However, it is interesting to note that Scott lived to enjoy the acclamation of collectors and critics in both America and Europe. After his brief partnership with Fiscus, Scott left for New York, studied for a time at the Art Students League, and then went on to Paris. Most of his life was spent in Europe, his death occurring at Paris in 1929.

5. Some of the remaining pictures by Fiscus is a still-life composition in oil, owned by the John Herron Art Museum; a self portrait in charcoal in the possession of Elmer Taflinger, of Indianapolis, and a recorded portrait of John Stern by him has not been traced. (From Wilbur Peats book, Pioneer Painters of Indiana, 1954.) *

The following information (#6 and #7) was forwarded to me from team member Kristine Coffel:

6. Charles Fiscus became a member of the Bohe Club (abbreviation of Bohemian) in 1879, after the Indiana School of Art closed. The club rented studios in the former school building to continue their artistic studies. Other members of the Bohe club included: George Cottman, Will Ebbert, Clarence Forsyth, Fred Hetherington, Thomas E. Hibben, Charles Nicoli, Frank Scott, Hartzell Stem, and William Jefferson Forsyth. (Courtesy of William Forsyth Papers 1863-1985, Indiana Historical Society – Manuscripts and Archives)

7. Charles went to study with Gookins in 1880 at his studio in Terre Haute. Fiscus was considered one of the most talented pupils of the Art school. He was “marked first by the master more often than not and is remembered by his fellow-students as having unusual ability.” After the school closed, Fiscus worked on crayon portraits. Fiscus was twenty-three when he died. (Art and Artists of Indiana, Mary Q. Burnet, 1921)

The following information (#8 and #9) was inserted by Roger Barnes.

8. In the 1870 U.S. Census Charles Fiscus is listed as being 10 years old on February 8, 1870, the day the census taker visited his home. This was an error since Charles was only 8 years old at that point in 1870. His place of birth is listed as Indiana. His home in 1870 is in Ward 2 of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. He is described as being at school and a white male. Other household members include Thomas Fiscus, a white male, age 38, who is a Brick Mason who was born in Ohio. Thomas is a U.S. citizen and the value of his real estate is $5000. The value of his personal estate is $350. Jennie Fiscus is a white female, age 34, who was born in Indiana. Her occupation is listed as keeps house. Reta Gibson is a white female, age 20, who is a domestic servant who was born in Ohio.

9. In the 1880 U.S. Census the census taker visited the home of Charles Fiscus on June 17, 1880. All members of the household are listed as white. Charles' father was born in Ohio and his mother was born in Indiana. Charles' grandparents on his father's side were both born in Ohio. Charles' grandmother on his mother's side was born in Maryland. Charles' grandfather on his mother's side was born in Pennsylvania.

For more quick facts, vist [|askart.com]
 * #5 Updates: The still life mentioned above is "Cornor of the Studio" and is in the Indianapolis Museum of Art collection; the whereabouts of the self portrait in charcoal are unknown as is the portrait of John Stern. Also, two pen and ink drawings: "A Dream of Elfland" and "Wide Awake", in addition to four untitled charcoal drawings, were discoverd in 2005 by Michael R. Ellis and remain in his possesion.
 * #4 Updates: In the 1880 US Census, accessed through Ancestry Library Edition subscription database, Fiscus was living in Indianapolis, Indiana on East St. Clair Street with his parents, Thomas N. and Jennie E. Fiscus as well as Euretta C. Gibson, who is listed as a cousin. He is 19 years old, and lists his occupation as Artist. He lists his birthplace as Indiana in 1861. His parents listed their occupations as Brick Mason (Thomas) and Dress Maker (Jennie). Euretta Gibson's occupation was also Dress Maker.