Miners in the Sierras
Charles Christian Nahl
1851-1852
Medium
Painting
Classification
Painting
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Fred Heilbron Collection
Accession Number
1982.120
Tags
cottagemaleCaliforniaSierra Nevada MountainsminingWestern
About this artwork
Charles Christian Nahl and August Wenderoth were refugees from Germany's revolution of 1848. Like thousands before them, they came to California to find their fortunes, but as skilled entrepreneurs rather than adventurers. They built a studio in Sacramento and painted the first wave of prospectors. These miners wear red, white, and blue shirts, signaling California's importance to the nation's future. California became a state in 1850, and was already an economic powerhouse by the time the artis...