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About the artist

Charles Henry Harmon

American

1859-1936

“Charles Henry Harmon was born on December 23, 1859 in Mansfield, Ohio. He moved to San Jose, California with his family in 1874 and at an early age was apprenticed to local portrait painter Louis Lussier. He later spent one year working in a local photography studio re-touching negatives. His youth was spent visiting the art galleries of San Francisco and, with no formal training, he began sketching and painting in 1883 in the beautiful Santa Clara Valley. He painted many landscapes of that area and made trips to the remotest parts of the Sierra and the Monterey Peninsula where he painted many coastal scenes. He began exhibiting in San Jose in the 1880s” (1).
“By the turn of the century, Gumps department store of San Francisco handled his work exclusively, and his reputation was well established. In 1905, he settled a studio in Denver, and began commissions for the Santa Fe Railroad, Western Pacific and Colorado Midlands to paint scenes along their route” (2).
“After his time in Colorado, he returned to San Jose where he remained for the rest of his life. Harmon died there on October 14, 1936 and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery” (3).
Reference:
1.
The Annex Galleries. Charles Henry Harmon [internet]. California. [cited 2015 June 29]. Available from: http://www.annexgalleries.com/artists/biography/957/Harmon/Charles
2.
Askart Staff. Charles Henry Harmon [internet]. [cited 2015 June 29]. Available from: http://www.askart.com/artist_bio/Charles_Henry_Harmon/6649/Charles_Henry_Harmon.aspx
3.
Hughes, E M. Artist in California 1786-1940 [internet]. Sacramento: Crocker, Art Museum; 2002. [cited 2015 June 29]. Available from: http://www.sternfinearts.com/chheha1.html