Hugo Wilhelm Arthur Nahl
Encyclopedia
Arthur Nahl was a German-born artist, daguerreotype
r, engraver
, portraitist, and landscape painter. Nahl was a painter known for his American Old West
paintings of California
. He was considered one of California's finest engravers, and was ranked amongst the best gymnasts in California for his time.
. Henriette and Georg divorced in 1826. In that year, she began a relationship with Georg's cousin, Alexander Theodor Nahl. After tiring of him, she began a relationship with Alexander's brother, Wilhelm Nahl. While Wilhelm was his biological parent, he considered Alexander to be his father. Henriette and Wilhelm had one other child, a daughter, Laura. Nahl was descended from a family of German artists dating to the 17th century. His great-grandfather was Johann August Nahl
, the German sculptor and stuccist.
His early art studies were with Charles and the family friend, Frederick August Wenderoth. He later studied at the Kassel Academy. Nahl moved with his mother, two brothers, and two sisters to Paris
in 1846. Here, Arthur and Charles studied with Emile Jean Horace Vernet and Hippolyte Delaroche
. Charles went on to study at the Louvre
, Palace of Versailles
, and Luxembourg Palace
galleries. He received his first gold medal at age 16.
Three years later, they moved to New York
, settling in Brooklyn
. In 1851, they sailed by way of Panama to California in search of gold. The family bought a mine on Deer Creek near Rough and Ready, California
which fared poorly. Within a year, the family moved to Sacramento
where Nahl worked as a woodcarver. After the 1852 Sacramento fire, they moved to San Francisco.
In San Francisco, Charles partnered first with his family friend Wenderoth. After Wenderoth married one of the Nahl sisters and moved to Philadelphia, Charles began a partnership with Arthur. The Nahl brothers worked as commercial artists, daguerreotypers, engravers, and portrait painters. They became San Francisco's leading lithographers
and specialized in souvenir
stationary. They created many wood carvings from photograph images. With his brother and William Dickman, Nahl formed the partnership of Nahl Brothers and Dickman in 1867, an art and photograph gallery on Montgomery Street
in San Francisco. When Isaiah West Taber bought out the Nahl's photography department, Nahl worked for him, coloring and retouching the photographs. Nahl collaborated with others, including Bret Harte
, on the cover design of Overland Monthly
.
His exhibitions included:
Nahl's art works are held at the Oakland Museum and the California Historical Society
.
and was its headquarters during the period of1855 to 1860. At Nahl's suggestion, it was named the "San Francisco Olympic Club" and, at the club's inaugural meeting on May 6, 1860, Nahl was elected its Leader.
Nahl married Annie Sweeney in 1865 and they moved to Alameda, California
. One of Nahl's son, Perham Wilhelm Nahl (1869–1935), became an art professor at the University of California
, and founder of the California College of Arts and Crafts. Another son, Virgil Theodore Nahl (1876–1930), wnet to work as a staff artist for the San Francisco Examiner. A third son, Arthur Charles Nahl, was a mining engineer; his daughter, Margery, was an impressionist painter.
He died in 1889 on a ferry in San Francisco Bay enroute to Alameda.
Daguerreotype
The daguerreotype was the first commercially successful photographic process. The image is a direct positive made in the camera on a silvered copper plate....
r, engraver
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
, portraitist, and landscape painter. Nahl was a painter known for his American Old West
American Old West
The American Old West, or the Wild West, comprises the history, geography, people, lore, and cultural expression of life in the Western United States, most often referring to the latter half of the 19th century, between the American Civil War and the end of the century...
paintings of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He was considered one of California's finest engravers, and was ranked amongst the best gymnasts in California for his time.
Early life
He was the son of Henriette (Weickh) Nahl (1796–1863). Henriette and her first husband, Georg Valentin Friedrich Nahl, had one son, the American West painter, Charles Christian NahlCharles Christian Nahl
Carl Christian Heinrich Nahl , later known as Charles Nahl, and sometimes Karl Nahl, Charles Christian Nahl or Charles C. Nahl, was a German-born painter who is called California's first significant artist.-Early years:He was the son of Georg Valentin Friedrich Nahl and Henriette Nahl...
. Henriette and Georg divorced in 1826. In that year, she began a relationship with Georg's cousin, Alexander Theodor Nahl. After tiring of him, she began a relationship with Alexander's brother, Wilhelm Nahl. While Wilhelm was his biological parent, he considered Alexander to be his father. Henriette and Wilhelm had one other child, a daughter, Laura. Nahl was descended from a family of German artists dating to the 17th century. His great-grandfather was Johann August Nahl
Johann August Nahl
Johann August Nahl was a German sculptor and stuccist.He was first taught by his father Johann Samuel Nahl , who had been court sculptor of Frederic I since 1704. At the age of 18, Nahl undertook a journey via Sigmaringen and Bern to Strasbourg, where he worked for Robert Le Lorrain...
, the German sculptor and stuccist.
His early art studies were with Charles and the family friend, Frederick August Wenderoth. He later studied at the Kassel Academy. Nahl moved with his mother, two brothers, and two sisters to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1846. Here, Arthur and Charles studied with Emile Jean Horace Vernet and Hippolyte Delaroche
Hippolyte Delaroche
Hippolyte Delaroche , commonly known as Paul Delaroche, was a French painter born in Paris. Delaroche was born into a wealthy family and was trained by Antoine-Jean, Baron Gros, who then painted life-size histories and had many students.The first Delaroche picture exhibited was the large Josabeth...
. Charles went on to study at the Louvre
Louvre
The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...
, Palace of Versailles
Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles , or simply Versailles, is a royal château in Versailles in the Île-de-France region of France. In French it is the Château de Versailles....
, and Luxembourg Palace
Luxembourg Palace
The Luxembourg Palace in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, north of the Luxembourg Garden , is the seat of the French Senate.The formal Luxembourg Garden presents a 25-hectare green parterre of gravel and lawn populated with statues and provided with large basins of water where children sail model...
galleries. He received his first gold medal at age 16.
Three years later, they moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, settling in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. In 1851, they sailed by way of Panama to California in search of gold. The family bought a mine on Deer Creek near Rough and Ready, California
Rough and Ready, California
Rough and Ready is a census-designated place in Nevada County, California, United States. It is located west of Grass Valley, California, approximately 62 miles from Sacramento...
which fared poorly. Within a year, the family moved to Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
where Nahl worked as a woodcarver. After the 1852 Sacramento fire, they moved to San Francisco.
Career
Nahl worked in charcoal, crayon, oil, and watercolor. His subjects included animals, landscapes, portraits, and genre works.In San Francisco, Charles partnered first with his family friend Wenderoth. After Wenderoth married one of the Nahl sisters and moved to Philadelphia, Charles began a partnership with Arthur. The Nahl brothers worked as commercial artists, daguerreotypers, engravers, and portrait painters. They became San Francisco's leading lithographers
Lithography
Lithography is a method for printing using a stone or a metal plate with a completely smooth surface...
and specialized in souvenir
Souvenir
A souvenir , memento, keepsake or token of remembrance is an object a person acquires for the memories the owner associates with it. The term souvenir brings to mind the mass-produced kitsch that is the main commodity of souvenir and gift shops in many tourist traps around the world...
stationary. They created many wood carvings from photograph images. With his brother and William Dickman, Nahl formed the partnership of Nahl Brothers and Dickman in 1867, an art and photograph gallery on Montgomery Street
Montgomery Street
Montgomery Street is a north-south thoroughfare in San Francisco, California, in the United States.It runs about 16 blocks from the Telegraph Hill neighborhood south through downtown, terminating at Market Street. South of Columbus Avenue, Montgomery Street runs through the heart of San Francisco's...
in San Francisco. When Isaiah West Taber bought out the Nahl's photography department, Nahl worked for him, coloring and retouching the photographs. Nahl collaborated with others, including Bret Harte
Bret Harte
Francis Bret Harte was an American author and poet, best remembered for his accounts of pioneering life in California.- Life and career :...
, on the cover design of Overland Monthly
Overland Monthly
Overland Monthly was a monthly magazine based in California, United States, and published in the 19th and 20th century.The magazine's first issue was in July 1868, and continued until the late 1875. The original publishers, in 1880, started The Californian, which became The Californian and Overland...
.
His exhibitions included:
- American Art Union
- San Francisco Art AssociationSan Francisco Art AssociationThe San Francisco Art Association was an organization that promoted California artists, held art exhibitions, published a periodical, and established an art school. Over its lifetime, the association helped establish a Northern California regional flavor of California Tonalism as differentiated...
- California Exposition & State Fair, 1888 (medal)
- California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894The California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894, commonly referred to as the "Midwinter Exposition" or the "Midwinter Fair", was a World's Fair that operated from January 27 to July 5 in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. In 1892, U.S. President Benjamin Harrison appointed M. H...
Nahl's art works are held at the Oakland Museum and the California Historical Society
California Historical Society
The California Historical Society is California's official state historical society and is located in San Francisco, California at 678 Mission Street -History and collections:...
.
Personal life
The Nahl brothers were fine athlete. At their home in San Francisco's Bush Street, their backyard gymnasium served as the early version of the Olympic ClubOlympic Club
The Olympic Club is a San Francisco, California, athletic club and private social club with three golf courses located at San Francisco's border with Daly City, California. The club's main "City Clubhouse" is located in downtown San Francisco. The club's "Lakeside Clubhouse" is located just north...
and was its headquarters during the period of1855 to 1860. At Nahl's suggestion, it was named the "San Francisco Olympic Club" and, at the club's inaugural meeting on May 6, 1860, Nahl was elected its Leader.
Nahl married Annie Sweeney in 1865 and they moved to Alameda, California
Alameda, California
Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to Oakland in the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Farm Island portion of the city is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport. At the 2010 census, the city had a...
. One of Nahl's son, Perham Wilhelm Nahl (1869–1935), became an art professor at the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
, and founder of the California College of Arts and Crafts. Another son, Virgil Theodore Nahl (1876–1930), wnet to work as a staff artist for the San Francisco Examiner. A third son, Arthur Charles Nahl, was a mining engineer; his daughter, Margery, was an impressionist painter.
He died in 1889 on a ferry in San Francisco Bay enroute to Alameda.
Partial bibliography
- Nahl, A., & Nahl, C. C. (1863). Instructions in gymnastics by Arthur and Charles Nahl: Illustrated with 53 plates, containing several hundred figures. San Fran: A.Rosenfield.