Harmer, Alexander Francis (1856-1925).

Mission San Luis Rey by Alexander Francis Harmer (1856-1925) 25.5" x 40", Oil/Canvas, Signed Est.: $30,000 - $50,000 Sold by John Moran Auctioneers for $63,250 on 6/21/2005 ARTIST WORLD RECORD

Painter, illustrator. Born in Newark, NJ on August 21, 1856.

Harmer began painting as a child and sold first painting at age 11. Leaving home at 13, he began a life of travel and made his way to Nebraska.

After three years in Lincoln, he headed east and in Cincinnati joined the U.S. Army at age 16. After one year of service in California, he requested a discharge in order to pursue an art career.

He returned to the East and enrolled at the PAFA under Eakins and Anshutz. In order to get to the West to paint Indians, he re-enlisted in the Army in 1881 and was assigned to cavalry duty in Arizona where he participated in the Apache wars.

He returned to the PAFA with sketches of the Apaches which he developed into oils and watercolors, and contributed illustrations thereof to Haperís Weekly.

In the early 1890s Harmer settled in Santa Barbara and married into one of the pioneer California families. He then switched to painting portraits and genre scenes of the vanishing life of the old missions of California during the Mexican rule. His scenes were depicted with great accuracy and detail to the costumes and surroundings of that period before California became a state.

Harmer sometimes signed his works ìA.F.H.î or a circle with a cross of two peace pipes in the center (Apache symbol of friendship and peace). He is considered Southern Californiaís first great painter of the 19th century. His adobe on De La Guerra Plaza was a gathering spot for artists until his death there on Jan. 8, 1925.

Works held: Santa Barbara Museum; LACMA. Taft; D&I; Sam; SCA; So. Calif. Artists 1890-1940; CAAW; Art News, 1-24-1925 (obit).+