Note
Frederich Schafer
(b. 1839, Braunschweig, Germany - d. 1927, Oakland, CA)
MOUNTAIN GLACIER
Oil on canvas, 20 x 30 inches
Loaned by Mr. and Mrs. Salvador G. Morales
Frederick Schafer was born in Braunschweig, Germany in 1839. Schafer may have studied art in Düsseldorf, since his paintings resemble those of other Düsseldorf-trained artists; however, he is believed to have been self-taught.
He came to the U.S. in 1876 and arrived in San Francisco in 1880. After establishing a studio, he began exhibiting regularly with the local art association and the Mechanics' Institute Fairs. A peripatetic painter, he made regular sketching trips throughout the Northwest including Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. During his last years he painted theatrical scenery in San Francisco and Oakland theaters. Schafer had a home in Oakland from 1880 until his death. His landscapes, which often include Indians, were mostly done before 1890 and number about 500.
His work can be found in the collections of the Oakland Museum, Seattle Art Museum, and Crocker Museum in Sacramento, among others.