George Henry Burgess

George Henry Burgess (8 June 1831 – 22 April 1905) was an English American painter, wood engraver and lithographer.

In San Francisco, his primary source of income was painting portraits, but he often revisited the Gold Rush theme.

[2][4] George's eldest brother, Edward, had journeyed to San Francisco in 1847, eventually setting up a trading business between California and Hawaii.

[5] In the same year, George and his brother Charles, a portrait painter and photographer,[3] traveled over the Great Plains in search of their fortune.

[5] After initial gold prospecting attempts, Hubert, Charles, and George Burgess opened a jewelry shop in Sonora.

[3] In 1854, he lithographed a view of San Francisco city and harbor, based on a daguerrotype by the photographer George Howard Johnson.

[10] Noteworthy among George's Honolulu output were his pendant portraits of King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma.

[12] Upon his return to San Francisco, Burgess lithographed a series of Honolulu views,[2] printed by the firm of Britton & Rey.

He was especially noted for his skill in depicting ladies' gowns, which he would ask to borrow a few weeks before sittings in order to capture the decorative details.

[3] In 1871, Burgess was one of the founding members of the San Francisco Art Association, and afterwards there were regular exhibitions and opportunities for patronage.

While it is unknown if the painting still exists, Flood also commissioned View of San Francisco in 1850, for which Burgess received $650 and $100 for the frame.

Prior to its completion in 1886, Burgess began a lengthy and unsuccessful search for a buyer, his asking price being ten thousand dollars.