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Alexander Harmer – Colorized

Between 1912-1929 the Franciscan scholar, Fr. Zephryrin Engelhardt, O.F.M. published a comprehensive five-volume study Missions and Missionaries of California. He also began work on the first definitive books of each of the missions. Initially, Fr. Engelhardt worked with Arthur Burnside Dodge (1863-1952), who was then Art Director of the Los Angeles Times. Dodge completed seven of the early illustrations. Fr. Engelhardt then engaged Alexander Harmer (1856-1925), who ultimately contributed over 80% of the drawings.

The drawings in this gallery cover a wide range of events from the founding of the first missions in San Diego in 1769 to the raising of the United States flag in Monterey in 1846.

Many of these illustrations have been professionally colorized by Susan Gamble, under contract with the California Missions Resource Center. Over the years, we have licensed the use of many of these images to the Smithsonian, the Getty Museum, the California Museum and made them available to mission scholars, authors and video producers. We also have the ability to provide museum-quality prints for individuals and institutions who seek an historic image.

Indians Dancing
Indians DancingIndians Dancing, 1769, Alexander Harmer, On Portola Expedition, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Fr. Serra Gives Thanks for Return of Supply Ship San Antonio
Fr. Serra Gives Thanks for Return of Supply Ship San AntonioFr. Serra Gives Thanks for Return of Supply Ship San Antonio, 3-19-1770, Alexander Harmer, Mission San Diego area, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Martyrdom of Fr. Luis Jayme at Mission San Diego
Martyrdom of Fr. Luis Jayme at Mission San DiegoMartyrdom of Fr. Luis Jayme at Mission San Diego, 11-1775, Alexander Harmer, 2nd Location, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Don Fernando de Rivera Violates Church Asylum
Don Fernando de Rivera Violates Church AsylumDon Fernando de Rivera Violates Church Asylum, 1776, Alexander Harmer, Temporary Church at Mission San Diego, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Departing for the California Missions
Departing for the California MissionsDeparting for the California Missions, Mission-Era, Alexander Harmer, Apostolic College of San Fernando in Mexico City, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Franciscan Missionaries as They Came and Went
Franciscan Missionaries as They Came and WentFranciscan Missionaries as They Came and Went, Mission-Era, Alexander Harmer, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Building the Mission
Building the MissionBuilding the Mission, Mission-Era, Alexander Harmer, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Crushing Soaked Corn on Metate
Crushing Soaked Corn on MetateCrushing Soaked Corn on Metate, Mission-Era, Alexander Harmer, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Soldiers Preparing to Attack Mission Santa Bárbara
Soldiers Preparing to Attack Mission Santa BárbaraSoldiers Preparing to Attack Mission Santa Bárbara, 1824, Alexander Harmer, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Soldier Shooting an Indian during Recapture of Mission Santa Bárbara
Soldier Shooting an Indian during Recapture of Mission Santa BárbaraSoldier Shooting an Indian during Recapture of Mission Santa Bárbara, 1824, Alexander Harmer, colorized © Pentacle Press LLC
Violent Arrest of Fr. Luís A. Martinez
Violent Arrest of Fr. Luís A. MartinezViolent Arrest of Fr. Luís A. Martinez, 1830, Mission San Luis Obispo, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Fr. Peyri's Farewell and Last Blessing
Fr. Peyri's Farewell and Last BlessingFr. Peyri's Farewell and Last Blessing, 1832, Alexander Harmer, Mission San Luis Rey / San Diego Harbor, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Fr. Duran and His Mission Band
Fr. Duran and His Mission BandFr. Duran and His Mission Band, c. 1833, Alexander Harmer, Mission San José / Mission Santa Bárbara, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
The Landing of the Zacatecan Franciscans
The Landing of the Zacatecan FranciscansThe Landing of the Zacatecan Franciscans, 1-15-1833, Alexander Harmer, Monterey (Governor Figueroa Present), colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Indians Refuse to Work for Captain Portilla
Indians Refuse to Work for Captain PortillaIndians Refuse to Work for Captain Portilla, 1834, Alexander Harmer, Mission San Luis Rey, colorized © Pentacle Press LLC
Neophytes on the Road from ex-Mission After Secularization
Neophytes on the Road from ex-Mission After SecularizationNeophytes on the Road from ex-Mission After Secularization, 1834, Alexander Harmer, Mission San Luis Rey to Oceanside, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Cause of Disappearance of the Indians - Whiskey Shop
Cause of Disappearance of the Indians - Whiskey ShopCause of Disappearance of the Indians - Whiskey Shop, mid-1830's, Alexander Harmer, Los Angeles, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Remains of Fr. Sarría Being Taken for Burial
Remains of Fr. Sarría Being Taken for BurialRemains of Fr. Sarría Being Taken for Burial, 1835, from Mission Soledad to Mission San Antonio de Padua, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Fr. Narciso Durán Distracted
Fr. Narciso Durán DistractedFr. Narciso Durán Distracted, 1836, Alexander Harmer, Convento of Santa Bárbara, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Fr. Duran Hears Complaints of the Neophytes
Fr. Duran Hears Complaints of the NeophytesFr. Duran Hears Complaints of the Neophytes, 1839, Alexander Harmer, Mission San Fernando Rey, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Unwelcome Visitors to be Fed at Mission Expense
Unwelcome Visitors to be Fed at Mission ExpenseUnwelcome Visitors to be Fed at Mission Expense, 1840, Alexander Harmer, Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Reception of Bishop García Diego
Reception of Bishop García DiegoReception of Bishop García Diego, 1843, Alexander Harmer, Mission Santa Bárbara, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Raising of Bear Flag in Sonoma
Raising of Bear Flag in SonomaRaising of Bear Flag in Sonoma, 1846, Alexander Harmer, On the town square, across from Mission San Francisco Solano, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Raising of Flag of United States in Monterey
Raising of Flag of United States in MontereyRaising of Flag of United States in Monterey, 1846, Alexander Harmer, Monterey Harbor, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Mission Santa Bárbara
Mission Santa BárbaraMission Santa Bárbara, 1794, Alexander Harmer, Second Church, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Mission San Rafael Arcángel
Mission San Rafael ArcángelMission San Rafael Arcángel, c. 1822, Alexander Harmer, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Mission San Francisco Solano
Mission San Francisco SolanoMission San Francisco Solano, c. 1827, Alexander Harmer, Sonoma, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC
Mission Santa Bárbara - Leaving After Divine Services at Mission
Mission Santa Bárbara - Leaving After Divine Services at MissionMission Santa Bárbara - Leaving After Divine Services at Mission, 1824, Alexander Harmer, colorized © 2014 Pentacle Press LLC

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