(1844-1889)
Born in Paris, France in 1844, Tavernier began art studies at age 16 at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. By age 20 he had exhibited at the prestigious Paris Salon. Tavernier crossed the U.S. in 1873 as employee of Harper’s Weekly. Traveling by horseback, he made drawings of the western frontier along the way. After arriving in San Francisco in 1874, Tavernier became an active member of the San Francisco Art Association and Bohemian Club. Following a sketching trip to Monterey in 1875, he built a studio there which became a mecca for visiting artists. Soon others joined him and an art colony of “Bohemians” was formed. Although his work brought top prices he was constantly in debt due to his profligate life style. After an altercation with local citizenry forced his return to San Francisco in 1879, he shared a studio with Julian Rix and Joseph Strong. Deeply in debt and hounded by creditors, his desire to paint volcanoes in Hawaii led him to the Islands in 1884. He produced about 100 depictions of volcanoes in oil and pastel. His works were popular there and he became court painter to the King. Local law insisted upon payment of all bills before leaving the Islands and, unable to do so, he remained there until his death in 1889 at age 45. A granite marker was sent to Hawaii by his friends at the Bohemian Club. Works held: Oakland Museum; California Historical Society; de Young Museum.