San Francisco County

Biographies

GEORGE H. BURGESS

GEORGE H BURGESS, the well-known portrait artist of San Francisco, was born in London, England, in 1831. His father was a prominent surgeon and parochial physician in the parish of Saint Giles, and several members of the family were gifted with a talent for art. A brother of our subject, William Oakley Burgess, the noted mezzo-tint engraver of London, was a pupil of Lupton. His exquisite delicacy in art may be instanced in both large and small plates which he engraved from Sir Thomas Lawrence’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington. The last of his works were portraits of Sir John Moore, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Duchess of Northumberland. He also made a fine engraved portrait of Lord Nelson.

George H. developed a talent for drawing at an early age, and afterward attended the Somerset House School of Design. He worked at artistic lithographing, both portrait and landscape work. Upon reaching manhood he came to America and located in California, where he continued his art pursuits. During the Fraser river excitement in 1858, he went up that river in a canoe and made some very valuable sketches, and while there painted a picture which was purchased from him by Governor Douglass. Since that time he has devoted more than thirty years to his profession here, working in oil and water color, both portrait and landscape, chiefly the former. Mr. Burgess has recently completed his great picture, “San Francisco in ’49,” on which he has been engaged for years. It is undoubtedly the most correct of any thing ever portrayed of this most interesting subject. The painting is twelve feet long and five feet high. He has received certificates of its realty and correctness from many of the pioneers and historical writers on this coast. This magnificent painting should adorn the walls of the State Capitol or the new City Hall, or would be conspicuous in any of the private galleries of San Francisco.

Mr. Burgess married Miss Emma Clint, of England, daughter of a noted artist and President of the Society of British Artists. Her grandfather, George Clint, was a painter of the best known theatricals of his day, and many of his admirable works are found in Kensington Museum and in the National Gallery

Transcribed by Donna L. Becker

Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2, pages 184-185 Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.

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