Gallery

Charles Betton Russ was born December 26, 1824 in Salem, NH. He was an artist active in the second half of the 19th century. During the period from 1870 to 1880, Russ lived on Hancock Street in Cambridge, MA. He married Helen F. Coolidge from Cambridge, MA. Their daughter, Annie, married Henry Lansing Millis on December 15, 1880. The town of Millis, MA, was named for Henry’s father, Lansing Millis, who made his money in railroads.

Russ exhibited in 1873 at the Boston Art Club in January and March. The paintings in both cases were titled Autumnal Landscape. The earliest known paintings by Russ are dated 1862, and one is titled Conway New Hampshire. Other New Hampshire paintings include an 1863 view of Mount Lafayette, an 1864 view of Mount Chocorua, and an 1878 view of Mount Washington from North Conway. Oil paintings ranging in dates from 1862 to 1886 are known to exist. Four watercolors by Russ dating from 1886 to 1892 are owned by the great great grandson of Russ, living in Minnesota.

Russ is known to have painted in Vermont. A 12 x 20 inch painting of Mount Mansfield from Jeffersonville VT is undated. An 8 ½ x 12 inch undated painting is titled in the artists hand View on the Onion River Waterbury Vermont [Winooski River]. Other painting locations, including Europe, have been documented in a private collection in Vermont. One is a landscape painting, 11 x 17 inches, untitled. It is described as “a boat on water, a steam train, and a mountain that resembles Storm King in the Adirondacks.” The painting is signed “C.B. Russ, 1880.” The second painting is 26 x 48 inches and is signed “C.B. Russ, 1881.” It is titled verso, Lake Lucerne from Brunnen. There is a hand written paper label glued to the back of the stretcher that reads:

Mrs. H. F. Russ
Lake Lucerne from Brunnen
Switzerland
Painted by Charles B. Russ

A sticker on the stretcher reads “Frost and Adams” – a Boston artist supplier.

C.B. Russ died May 4, 1896 in Millis, MA. A funeral service was held at his late Millis residence three days later. Russ is buried at Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, MA.

Funeral Notice From Boston Evening Transcript
Boston, MA / Tuesday, May 5, 1896 / Page 4 / RUSS–At Millis, Mass.

May 4, Charles B. Russ. Funeral from his late residence, Thursday, May 7, at 2 o’clock. Friends requested to attend without further notice. Burial private. Train leaves Boston & Albany Station at 12.20 P.M.; returns at 4.45.

Gravestone

Signatures

References
Helpful registrants of 'whitemountainart.com'
Independent research by the authors
Who Was Who in American Art