Henry Nappenbach (1862-1931)

Painter, illustrator, engraver. Born in 1862 in Muenden, Germany. Nappenbach studied art in Munich. While there he was hired by a San Francisco lithographer (Max Schmidt) to come to California as an engraver in 1885. He later was a staff artist for the Examiner and painted many city scenes and landscapes in his leisure. While vacationing in Hawaii in 1898, he painted watercolors of Honolulu’s Chinatown. In 1918 he was sent to NYC to manage the art department of the Hearst-owned American and remained there until his death on May 25, 1931. His signature on his artworks was most often NAP. His style was considered avant-garde in the early years of the century. Exh: Bohemian Club, 1898, 1904. In: Oakland Museum; Bohemian Club; OHS. Sam; Bay Window Bohemia; AAA 1931