California Biographies 

Source:
History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California
by: C M Gidney - Santa Barbara. Benjamin Brooks - San Luis Obispo. 
Edwin M Sheridan - Ventura
Volumes II - Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, ILL., 1917

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 

FERNAND LUNGREN.  A painter of recognized ability and originality, well known on both sides of the 
Atlantic, Fernand Lungren, of Santa Barbara, through his own energy and perseverance, has achieved 
marked success as an artist, his creative work being intelligently and conscientiously done, and in a 
most delightful and individual style that will not suffer by being compared with the work of other 
artists. He was born November 13, 1859, in Maryland, a son of Dr. Samuel San ford Lungren, coming 
from a family of title in Sweden, from whence the immigrant ancestor came to this country in 1620. 
One of his forefathers, his great grandfather, established the first paper mills on the Brandywine.
 
 Dr. Samuel S. Lungren, a Pennsylvanian by birth and breeding, was a noted physician and surgeon of 
his day, practicing his profession first in Maryland, and later in Toledo, Ohio, where his death occurred 
in 1893.  He was a man of influence, and served as president of a number of different medical 
organizations. He married Mary Catherine Marshall, who was born in Maryland, and was a relative of 
Chief Justice Marshall.
 
Receiving his preliminary education in private schools, Fernand Lungren entered the University of 
Michigan, where he took the scientific course, specializing as a mining engineer. He subsequently 
engaged in journalistic work in Baltimore, from there going to New York, where he did his first work as 
an artist by illustrating for the old Scribner Magazine. He afterwards became well known in Boston ; 
also, in fact, throughout the length and breadth of the United States, as an illustrator for Wide Awake, 
Saint Nicholas, Harper's Magazine, Century Magazine, and for all the leading publications. About ten 
years ago Mr. Lungren relinquished his work as an illustrator, and has since devoted his talents to 
painting, a branch of art in which he acquired fame while illustrating by being the first person to paint a 
picture, of the city streets by night.  

Mr. Lungren subsequently pursued his art studies abroad, remaining in Paris three years. Returning 
then to this country, he spent a short time in Cincinnati, from there going to New Mexico and Arizona, 
where he lived and labored for five years, painting landscapes, and becoming interested in the Pueblo 
Indians. Later he became a priest of the Hopi Indians in Arizona, which gave him an excellent 
opportunity for his studies. Leaving the Southwest, Mr. Lungren again crossed the ocean, and, after 
spending two years in England, pursuing his art studies, he went to Africa, where he stayed a year, 
making studies of scenes along  
the Nile, and in the desert regions of the Sudan. 
 
In 1902 Mr. Lungren returned from his wanderings abroad and lived for two years in New York City, 
and two years_ in Los Angeles. He was then, in 1906, induced by his intimate friend, Stewart Edward 
White, to locate in Santa Barbara, which he intends to make his permanent home. He is a painter of 
international prominence, his pictures having attracted attention both at home and in European art 
circles, and are to be found in the Staats-Forbes, Warren, Roberts, Corcoran, Wallace and other noted 
collectors. While he has disposed of a number of his paintings in the East, he now finds ready sale for 
all of his work in California.  

Mr. Lungren has worked steadily and faithfully along the line of his intention, his aim being to make an 
authoritative and comprehensive collection of desert pictures that will forever settle the general 
misconception of the desert. In his labors, which have carried him to distant and odd corners of the 
earth, he has encountered many dangers and endured much privation. While he was in London the 
public at first was slow in responding to the subjects of his artistic efforts and took but little interest in 
his work until he painted his noted pictures of "London at Night." After that, as he says, he and his 
wife were "tremendously" well received, and he was made a member of the Pastel Society. His 
pictures were grouped, and he was honored as the man who had discovered London at night.  He and 
Mrs. Lungren were recipients of many flattering courtesies and mingled freely with men and women 
of prominence.  

Mr. Lungren has original views on. art, as every true artist has, one of the strongest being his 
conviction of the great mission of the West, especially the Pacific coast, into the immediate future in 
commercial and artistic development, and his desire is to be identified with that development rather 
than with what has been done in the East. In Europe  
American artists are appreciated, but very little is known of American art, and with a desire to add his 
artistic mite to its better comprehension, he committed "professional suicide," in the opinion of many 
of his eastern friends, in leaving his secure position to make another in the field of his adoption.  
 
Soon after the Japanese-Russian war he began to talk and write upon the now much discussed subject 
of preparedness and urged, the people to cease "wallowing in the mire of complacency, and wake up 
to the gravity of the defenseless condition of the country." Three years ago he was practically alone in 
his views, but now has many friends. He is strong in his pleadings for universal service from a military 
point of view, and is a stanch advocate of Americanism, pure and unadulterated. He argues that it is 
impossible for us to demand a place among the world powers unless we are capable of satisfactorily 
filling a position so full of responsibility and trust.  

Mr. Lungren married, in New York City, Miss Henrietta Whipple, a native of the Empire state. Mr. 
Lungren is a member of the Salaman- gundie Club, the old Tile Club, the Southern California Art Club, 
the Santa Barbara Country Club, and the La Cumbre Club.