miniatures on ivory by Edward Malbone, who ranks as having been the greatest of American miniaturists. He . . . first opened a studio here in 1800, where he probably painted more portraits than in any other city. Our own miniaturist, Charles Fraser, should also be mentioned with him. He executed over 300 portraits dur- a long life and while there is not the same uniform excellence in them all as in those of Malbone, his master-pieces certainly entitle him to a high rank in his art."
Washington Allston spent several years in
Charleston, where were many of his relatives,
whose descendants still possess several of his
paintings.
"Saint Mémin, limner," is one of the names to be found in the Charleston City Directory for 1809; but few of the original crayon drawings and copper plates of that industrious French gentleman have escaped the tooth of time. Louis R. Mignot, the son of a French confectioner, was the only landscape painter from Charleston whose ability is recognized in Europe. S. G. W. Benjamin considers him one of the most remarkable artists of our country and says that he was equally happy in rendering the various aspects of nature, "whether it was the superb splendor of the tropical scenery of the Rio Bamba in South America, the sublime maddening rush of
