About The Nahl Brothers

Among San Francisco artists the work of Charles and Arthur Nahl ranks high. Their "Sawmill at

Coloma"and "Sunday Morning in Mines," and their portrait studies of the gold-mining era, are notable.

The Nahl Brothers also designed the California State Bear Flag and the great seal of the State of California.

Charles Christian Nahl (1818-1878) was born in Germany into an artistic family. In 1846, with his half-brother, Hugo

Wilhelm Arthur Nahl, and other family members, he moved to Paris. In May 1849, because of political unrest in Paris,

the Nahl family left (with Frederick August Wenderoth), for New York City, then to California by ship in search of gold.

After a time in the Sierra foothills, they abandoned mining and returned to painting. Out of their Sacramento art studio,

harles Nahl and Wenderoth produced paintings, commercial illustrations, and portraits that miners could send home.

After the disastrous fire in Sacramento in 1852, the Nahls and Wenderoth moved to San Francisco to establish their

art business. They were also interessted in gymnastics and bodybuilding, and their backyard gathering place formed the

beginnings of San Francisco's Olympic Club. Arthur Nahl's son, Perham Wilhelm Nahl (1869-1935) became a professor

of art at the University of California and was a founder of the California College of Arts and Crafts. Another son, Virgil

Theodore Nahl (1876-1930), became a staff artist with the San Francisco Examiner.

Hugo Wilhelm Arthur Nahl (1833-1889) was born in Kassel, Germany in 1883 into a long line of artists. Arthur studied art

with his half-brother Charles and at the Kassel Academy. In 1846 the two brothers moved to Paris where they studied with

Vernet and Delaroche. Caught up in the French Revolution, they immigrated to New York City in 1849 and two years later

sailed for California in search of gold. The brothers worked for a few months in the gold fields, but soon abandoned mining

for an art studio in Sacramento. The great fire of 1852 burned most f the city as well as their studio. They then settled in

San Francisco where Arthur worked with his brother as a commercial artist, portrait painter, engraver, and daguerreotyper.

His commercial work included re-designing the California state seal. The Nahl brothers were fine athletes; the gymnasium

in their backyard was the crude beginnings of the Olympic Club and served as its headquarters from 1855-60. After his

marriage in 1865 to Annie Sweeney, Arthur moved across the bay to Alameda where he remained. He died on the ferry

en route to his home on April 1, 1889. Equally facile in oil, watercolor, charcoal, and crayon, his subjects include portraits,

landscapes, animal and genre scenes. Exhibited: San Francisco Art Ass'n; California State Fair, 1888 (medal); California

Midwinter International Expo, 1894. Works held: Oakland Museum; California Historical Society

(click to enlarge all thumbnails)

Charles Nahl Sunday Morning in

Mines

Below are examples of artwork done by the Nahl Bros. Included is the lithograph of the

house.

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Abraham's daughter: as sung by Ben Cotton [F.H.H. Oldfield] BANC PIC 1963.002:1724--AX

Bryan & Johnson, photographer Gray, M. (active ca. 1872), publisher Nagel, Louis (active ca. 1844-ca. 1873),

German, printer Nahl Brothers (active 1852-1871), undetermined

[18--]

print on paper: lithograph and letterpress 35 x 27.3 cm.

Bancroft Library.

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Constitutional amendment abolishing slavery BANC PIC 1963.002:0634--D

Nahl Brothers (active 1852-1871), lithographer Nagel, Louis (active ca. 1844-ca. 1873), German, printer

c1866

print on paper mounted on board: lithograph 71 x 56.5 cm.

Bancroft Library.

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General view of the great Yo-Semite [Yosemite] Valley, Mariposa County, California BANC PIC 1963.002:0399--D

Ayres, Thomas A. (1816-1858), American, artist Nahl Brothers (active 1852-1871), lithographer Hutchings & Rosenfield

(active ca. 1856), publisher Nagel, Louis (active ca. 1844-ca. 1873), German, printer ca 1859

print on paper: lithograph 45.7 x 61 cm.

Bancroft Library.

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An hour at the cliff [Walter Bray, George H. Edmonds, W. D. Corrister] BANC PIC 1963.002:1769--AX

G. N., artist Nahl Brothers (active 1852-1871), lithographer Nagel, Louis (active ca. 1844-ca. 1873), German, printer

[before 1896]

print on paper: 26 x 34.5 cm.

Bancroft Library.

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In memoriam [tribute to Abraham Lincoln] BANC PIC 1963.002:0498--D

Nahl, Charles Christian (1818-1878), German, lithographer Nagel, Louis (active ca. 1844-ca. 1873), German, printer

[not before 1865]

print on paper: lithograph 64.2 x 50.5 cm.

Bancroft Library.

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Lombard, North Point, and Greenwich Docks, San Francisco [California]: ships Great Republic, Hurricane,

and Zenobia discharging BANC PIC 1963.002:0587--F

Gifford, Charles B. (active ca. 1858-ca. 1868), artist Eastman, Harrison (1823-1886), American,

lithographer Nahl, Hugo Wilhelm Arthur (1833-1889), German, lithographer Nagel, Louis

(active ca. 1844-ca. 1873), German, printer

[18--]

print on paper: lithograph, hand colored 75 x 100.8 cm.

Bancroft Library.

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Mission Dolores, San Francisco, [California] 1860, from the Potrero Neuevo BANC PIC 1963.002:1544--D

Gifford, Charles B. (active ca. 1858-ca. 1868), artist Nagel, Louis (active ca. 1844-ca. 1873), German,

publisher and printer Nahl Brothers (active 1852-1871), undetermined

1860

print on paper: lithograph 42.3 x 59.8 cm.

Bancroft Library.

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[Portrait of] Thomas O. Larkin BANC PIC 1963.002:0485--A

Nahl, Hugo Wilhelm Arthur (1833-1889), German, artist Nahl Brothers (active 1852-1871),

lithographer Nagel, Louis (active ca. 1844-ca. 1873), German, printer

[18--]

print on tinted paper: lithograph, color 19.6 x 12.7 cm., oval

Bancroft Library.

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Residence of C .L. Parish, Jackson, Amador Co[unty], Cal[ifornia] BANC PIC 1963.002:0911 (enclosure)--A

Nahl Brothers (active 1852-1871), lithographer and publisher Nagel, Louis (active ca. 1844-ca. 1873), German, printer

[18--?]

print on paper: lithograph, color 22.8 x 27 cm.

Bancroft Library.

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Society of California Volunteers [certificate] BANC PIC 1963.002:0645--C

Nagel, Louis (active ca. 1844-ca. 1873), German, printer Nahl Brothers (active 1852-1871), undetermined

[1873]

print on paper: lithograph 55.4 x 40.7 cm.

Bancroft Library.

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[Victoria Fire Department certificate of membership] BANC PIC 1963.002:0641--B

Nahl Brothers (active 1852-1871), lithographer Nagel, Louis (active ca. 1844-ca. 1873), German, printer

1867

print on paper: lithograph, color 39.3 x 44.1 cm.

Bancroft Library.

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