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Carl Henrik Jonnevold Biography
-Northern California landscape painter
in the Barbizon style-
  
     Jonnevold was born in Norway on June 1, 1856. He came to the U.S. in the 1880s and is known to have painted in the Northwest before moving to California in 1887.  Settling in San Francisco, he maintained a studio at 1617 California Street.  He was a self-taught painter except for brief study in the galleries of Paris in 1908.  

While in France he observed Old Masters in museums and galleries, and was clearly influenced by the Barbizon painters of the 1880s and their dark palette.  Returning to California, he continued to paint the beauty of northern California in the Barbizon style.  Often working in late afternoon when shadow prevails, he produced hundreds of attractive tree and meadow scenes which he exhibited in local galleries.  
Jonnevold was a successful California landscape artist throughout his career. Unfortunately, by the time of the stock market crash in 1929, Jonnevold was poverty stricken and living alone at his small studio at 560 Kearny Street.  Lack of funds caused him to move out of San Francisco, and he disappeared from the art community. A letter at the Oakland Museum gives his date of death as June 9, 1955 but no location. Although he nearly lived to be 100, nearly 30 years after his disappearance, Jonnevold was thought only to have created works up to his seventies.
His works have gained renewed respect in recent years and are highly sought after by collectors.

Member: San Francisco Art Association

Exhibitions:
Calif. State Fair, 1899-1902 (awards); Mechanics' Inst. (SF), 1897; SFAA, 1908-12; Alaska-Yukon Expo (Seattle), 1909 (bronze medal); Kanst Gallery (LA), 1915.  

In:  Society of Calif. Pioneers; Oakland Museum; CHS; De Young Museum.

Source: Edan Hughes, "Artists in California, 1786-1940"; SF Chronicle, 1-15-1929; CSL. AskART.