Henry Ford (illustrator)

His depictions of California's missions were partially responsible for the revival of interest in the state's Spanish heritage.

During the Civil War, he was a soldier assigned to prepare illustrations of interest to the military.

Ford traveled by horse and buggy to each of the twenty-one Spanish missions in California, where he created a historically important portfolio of watercolors, oils, and etchings.

In 1883, Ford published his Etchings of the Franciscan Missions of California, and exhibited his works at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

The hallmarks of Ford's images are exquisite brushwork and tonal mastery in all mediums, which make his works highly prized.