Charles Bregler

Charles Bregler (May 1864–September 24, 1958)[1] was an American portrait painter and sculptor, and a student (and disciple) of artist Thomas Eakins.

[2] Bregler wrote about Eakins's teaching methods, and amassed a large collection of his minor works, memorabilia and papers.

[3] Following Bregler's death, his widow safeguarded the Eakins collection for decades before selling it to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

[5] Eakins, who had trained at the École des Beaux-Arts, was director of the art school and its instructor in painting and drawing.

In early January 1886, Eakins had a male model remove his loincloth during an anatomy lecture before either an all-female or a mixed male-and-female class.

[6] Using a fully nude male model was contrary to PAFA policy, and Eakins received a January 11 letter of reprimand.

[18] She gave Bregler a number of her husband's works, including one of only two known self-portraits (the other was Eakins's "diploma" portrait for the National Academy of Design).

[19] Following Mrs. Eakins's 1938 death, her executors emptied the house at 1729 Mount Vernon Street, removing the items that they deemed salable at auction.

[30] That visit led to PAFA's 1985 purchase of the collection, with grants provided by the Mable Pew Myrin Trust and other funds.

[4] PAFA's Bregler Collection consists of nearly 1,600 items—29 paintings (most oil sketches for larger works), 12 sculptures, 261 drawings, 535 photographs, about 380 glass-plate negatives, 361 documents, and memorabilia such as Eakins's watercolor box and paintbrushes.