Hiram R. Bloomer

Hiram was a founding member of the Bohemian Club, and like me he had a love for Mount Tamalpais.

Hiram R. BLOOMER
1845 – 1911

Hiram Reynolds Bloomer was born in New York on December 19, 1845. He came to California with his family in 1852 and settled in San Francisco. Having decided upon an art career, he became a pupil of Virgil Williams, Thomas Hill, and Stephen Shaw from 1868-73. The years 1874-79 were spent in Paris where he took over Whistler’s old studio while studying with Duran and Pelouse. While there, his Old Bridge at Grez was purchased by the French government. The years 1879-90 were spent in England. Upon returning to the United States, he attended the National Academy of Design for two years. In 1892 he returned to San Francisco and resumed his residence and studio at 506 Battery Street. Early in his career he concentrated on portraiture, but after returning from Europe, he turned his attention to the local landscape. His works done after this time show the influence of the Barbizon painters. As he painted, he was constantly jabbering, humming, or singing which prompted one of his friends to remark, “Let’s go down to his studio and hear Bloomer paint.” About the turn of the century he moved across the Golden Gate to Sausalito where he spent his remaining years. His life came to a tragic close on June 3, 1911 after being run down by a cable car in San Francisco. Exhibited: Centennial Exposition (Philadelphia), 1876; Paris Salon and Expo Universelle, 1878; Royal Academy (London), 1879-90; Bohemian Club, 1897-1911; Mark Hopkins Institute, 1903, 1906; San Francisco Art Ass’n, 1904; Del Monte Art Gallery (Monterey), 1907-09. Works held: California Historical Society (portrait of Edward Bosqui); Oakland Museum; Society of California Pioneers.

Birth:	Dec. 19, 1845 New York New York County (Manhattan) New York, USA
Death:	Jun. 3, 1911 San Francisco San Francisco County California, USA
American Artist known for California landscapes Hiram Reynolds Bloomer moved to San Francisco as a child and grew up with the ambition to become an artist. He received an early appreciation of nature and introduction to painting, as his father was an artist and botanist. Early in his career he concentrated on portraiture, but after returning from Europe, he turned his attention to the beauty in the local landscapes, which early on, showed the influence of Thomas Hill, depicting magnificent mountain subjects like Lake Tahoe, Mount Shasta and Yosemite. While in San Francisco, Bloomer was a pupil of Thomas Hill, J.B. Wandesforde, Virgil Williams and Stephen William Shaw. Bloomer, co-founded the San Francisco Art Association in 1871 and was a charter member of the elite Bohemian Club in the Spring of 1872. In 1874, Bloomer held a successful auction of his own paintings and then traveled to Paris. He studied under masters, Charles Auguste Emile Durand and Leon Germaine Pelouse. He went on sketching trips to the neighborhood of the Forest of Fontainebleau, staying at the village of Barbizon. He was one of the party, along with Robert Louis Stevenson, that discovered the nearby hamlet of Grez. Sojourns to Paris and London proved successful, as his paintings were admitted to several major exhibitions. His “Old Bridge at Grez” was purchased by the French government. Bloomer returned to the United States and studied at the National Academy of Design in New York for two years. He then returned to San Francisco and spent the remainder of his life as a California artist. He was a frequent exhibitor at the Bohemian Club, often showing views of Mount Tamalpais and other Marin County locations. He shared an art studio with renowned marine artist William A. Coulter, in San Francisco & Sausalito. In February 1899, the San Francisco Chronicle said of Hiram R. Bloomer’s work; “a portfolio of the most refreshing sketches, things caught here and there in Marin County.” He exhibited paintings with such titles as “High Road, Marin County” and “A Meandering Road.” He lost sight in one eye sometime in the early 1900’s. The Great Quake of 1906 burned a great amount of Bloomer’s work; books, photos, etchings, proofs and many souvenirs; along with works “about town” that were in private galleries and clubs. Ten months after his wife died, Hiram Bloomer’s life came to a tragic end. He was struck by a street car in San Francisco and died 3 weeks later from his injuries. Bloomer is buried alongside his beloved Helena, in full view of the beautiful Mt. Tamalpais, one of his favorite subjects. Exhibitions 1865,1871 Mechanics Institute, San Francisco 1872-1910 San Francisco Art Association 1876 Centennial Exposition of 1876, Penn. 1878 Paris Salon & Expo Universelle 1879-90 Royal Academy, London 1892 Academy of Design, New York 1895-1901 California State Fair 1897-1911 Bohemian Club 1903 & 1906 Mark Hopkins Institute 1904 San Francisco Art Association 1907-1909 Del Monte Art Gallery Monterey The Oakland Museum; Society of California Pioneers, has two of Bloomer’s landscapes in their permanent collection. “Majestic Sierra Landscape” 1887, 50×36, was destroyed in the Oakland firestorm, 1991. Numerous works by Hiram Bloomer have recently sold at auction, including, the oil on canvas; ‘Yosemite Valley 1877’ (see photo) *** * * Timeline & Documentation 1850 Census New York Ward 8, NY** age 4, with parents & brother father, Hiram Green Bloomer, Painter Isaac & Theophilus Hanford, Painters Elisha Bloomer, Painter shows early influence of painters 1852-1853 migration to West Coast On January 8, 1853, a Mrs. Bloomer & children arrived in San Francisco, via steamship Cortesby way of Panama per Daily Alta California 1856 intermediate school, Levenworth Bloomer was one of the pupils “who have distinguished themselves not only for the progress they have made, and the perfection in their recitations, but for their good behaviour, general department, attention to their studies and regularity of their attendance.” per Daily Alta California 1860 Census San Francisco age 14, with parents & 2 brothers 1867 Voter Registration San Francisco 1402 Leavenworth, same as father, brother 1868-1873 Art Instruction Pupil of Virgil Williams, Thomas Hill and Stephen Shaw 1870 June Census San Francisco Ward 5, “Mercantile Library” w/many others age 23, Artist, Value of P.E., $250 enumerated in two censuses 1870 July Census San Francisco Ward 6, w/parents & 2 brothers age 24, occupation, Artist Painter 1874, August 21, Issued Passport 1874 – 1879 Paris Bloomer took over Whistler’s old studio while studying with Charles Auguste Durand and Leon Germaine Pelouse. 1879 – 1890 England Continued painting and met wife 1882 Marriage in Edinburgh, Scotland Hiram age 37 and Helena age 35 1891 census North Chelsea, London Hiram R. Bloomer, Artist, married lodger notation “not a British subject” HOH William Kelly & family, Leather Seller Helena Bloomer is censused as a lodger in the town of Merton, Croydon, in N.E. Surrey. 1892-1893 New York attended National Academy of Design 1896 Voter Registration Sausalito Occupation; Artist, age 50 5’4″, light complex, brown eyes, grey hair 1900 census Sausalito, Marin Co. Hiram R. age 54, Picture Artist Helena age 52, zero children born to them 1910 census Sausalito, Marin Co. Hiram, age 64, Landscape Artist Helena, age 62 1910 widowed Helena died 3 months after census 1911 death Hiram was hit by a street car on May 18 and died of his injuries 16 days later 1912 Lawsuit Superior Court Executer of Bloomer estate suing United Railroads for $10,400 in damages for his death. *** * * Artist Bloomer Passes Away** article & death notice attached CDI; birth year as 1850 Tombstone; birth year 1850 Marriage Cert.; birth Dec. 19, 1845 census dates confirm birth year of 1845 Remembrance Robert Louis Stevenson’s step-daughter Isobel Field, wrote in her book ‘This Life I’ve Loved’ 1937; “Another visitor to Grez was Bloomer,of California, a gentle, kindly man who painted innumerable pictures of the bridge, all more or less alike. When he realized the interest the two Stevensons took in his western talk, I suspect him of quoting from Bret Harte for their amusement. One remark of his to Bob was often repeated: “These parts seem considerable settled, stranger.” *** * *** Information garnered from various sources Biography written by Colletta Family links: Parents: Hiram Green Bloomer (1819 – 1874) Elizabeth Ann Reynolds Bloomer (1822 – ____) Spouse: Helena Reiderwaldt Bloomer (1847 – 1910)* Sibling: Theodore Hanford Bloomer (1844 – 1885)* Hiram Reynolds Bloomer (1845 – 1911) *Calculated relationship

Burial: Fernwood Cemetery Mill Valley Marin County California, USA
Created by: Colletta Record added: Feb 09, 2013 Find A Grave Memorial# 104880800