Page:The Overland Monthly, volume 1, issue 1.djvu/24

 California life and character, of some features of California scenery, of its aborigines, animals, birds and vegetation. During a brief stay in the mines he made numerous sketches illustrating the personal characteristics and industrial methods of the mining communities. These have been very useful to him since, have made his name a household word among us through engraved copies, and possess a real historic value. A list of all his labors here would be a record of the most picturesque and interesting incidents and objects in the annals of the. Golden State, with which he is peculiarly identified. He is distinguished for excellence of drawing, richness of finish, accuracy of detail, and brilliancy of color. Nothing that enters into his works is slightingly treated; indeed, the only objection to this fine artist is, that he is too exquisitely mechanical in some of his pieces. But we ought to be more thankful than critical over the conscientious and intelligent touch that has contributed so much to our pleasure and instruction during so many years of sordid struggle. Mr. Nahl has latterly devoted more attention to careful painting. Many works of permanent merit from his hand may be found in the private collections that are forming among our wealthy citizens, and some of these would be worthy of description if space allowed. They are fair examples of the thorough method of the French and German schools, which is not enough copied in America, where the self-culture in Art of which we hear so much is often no culture at all, and where the finest capacities often fail of the best results for lack of elementary knowledge to supply the tools of power.

One of the earliest California artists of whom we have any knowledge, after Jewett and Nahl, was Thomas S. Officer, a native of Pennsylvania, a pupil and friend of the venerable Sully, a member of the Philadelphia Academy, an associate of the Peales, an excellent miniature painter, and a man of much intelligence and enthusiasm in Art. He came here in 1849, resisted the gold mining rage, followed his profession with tolerable pecuniary success until 1859, and then died in a public hospital a melancholy victim to intemperate habits. .S. W. Shaw, a New England artist, came here also in 1849, after painting several excellent portraits of General Taylor, and one of Persifer F. Smith for which the City of New Orleans paid him $1,000. He was one of the discoverers of Humboldt Bay in 1850, and has had other adventurous and enterprising episodes in his life on the Pacific Coast; yet in the main San Francisco has been his home and Art his pursuit since the first year of his arrival, and he is now ranked among our best portrait painters., S. S. Osgood, of New York, husband of the poetess by that name, and a portrait painter of some repute formerly in that city, visited San Francisco in 1852, remaining here about six months. He painted the portrait of Gilbert, the editor of the Alta California newspaper who was killed in a duel with Gen. Denver. This picture now hangs in our City Hall. He also painted a portrait of Gen. Sutter, which is said to be in the possession of Alice Carey.

No other artistic name was prominent here until 1857. In that year, at the fifth annual Fair of the Mechanics' Institute, meritorious pictures were exhibited, in oil, pencil, India ink and water: colors, by Nahl, Jewett, Shaw and Officer, whom we have mentioned above; by Alexander Edouart, by H. Eastman, by D. D. Neal, and by several amateurs. Edouart, who is still here, but following the more lucrative business of photography, is an artist of culture and good taste, and has done some excellent portraits and landscapes. He is a Fleming, we believe. H. Eastman has produced some good water-color drawings of California scenery, and is well known as an engraver on wood. D. D. Neal, who