HARMER, Alexander. Vaqueros
Item #8089
20" x 29"; oil on canvas; signed. 1906. California artist b. New Jersey 1856, d. 1925. Harmer began painting as a child, selling his first piece at the age of 11. At 13 he left home to travel, eventually ending up in Nebraska. After three years in Nebraska, Harmer joined the army. Wanting to dedicate more time to painting, Harmer requested and was granted a discharge to study at the Pennsylvania School of Fine Arts in Philadelphia. His teachers included Thomas Eakins and Thomas Anshutz. However, in 1881 he realized he wanted to go West to paint Indians so he reenlisted in the army. He was transferred to Arizona, which gave him the opportunity to paint the Apache wars. In the 1890's he married and settled in Santa Barbara. His adobe gallery and home was a popular gathering place for artists. He is considered to be Southern California's first great painter of the 19th century. [Hughes]. . |
