German School, 1877-78, California Street, San Francisco; and San Francisco from Telegraph Hill

German School, 1877-78
California Street, San Francisco; and San Francisco from Telegraph Hill
the first numbered '363' (upper right), and titled 'December 1877. 563. Californiastreet. San Francisco' on the detached original mount which accompanies the watercolour, the second titled 'San Francisco von Telegraph Hill' (lower right), numbered '368' (upper right), and titled '12 Januar 1878 568. San Francisco vom Telegraphhill' on the detached original mount which accompanies the watercolour
pencil and watercolour on paper
unframed
the first 71⁄2 x 95⁄8in. (19.1 x 24.4cm.)
the second 61⁄4 x 93⁄8in. (15.8 x 23.8cm.)
Two views of San Francisco during the years of the Long Depression in America, 1877 the year of the anti-Chinese riots in the city when a mob of hoodlums attacked Chinese workers and property in the summer, setting the city ablaze. The present views in watercolour by an unidentified German artist capture the early development of the San Francisco before the great fire of 1906 destroyed many of the city's landmarks.
two (2)

Provenance

Anon. sale, Chistie's South Kensington, 25 May 1989, lots 52 and 53.