30 RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. 



contrast and color ; and in these prominent points I have not 

 yet seen any pictures superior to his. Wm. Keith has similar 

 merits, but both paint in the same broad style, and omit much 

 desirable finish of detail. In this respect, Bierstadt, who does 

 not claim to be a Californian, but has spent much time here, 

 is superior to either. Virgil Williams is another landscape 

 painter of much skill. The only historical painter is Charles 

 Nahl, whose works possess remarkable excellence in vigor and 

 suggestiveness of design. In accuracy of drawing, strength of 

 light and shade, careful finish, and brilliancy of color, he ranks 

 high. His picture of " Sunday in the Mines in 1849," of ex- 

 hibition size, representing a mining camp, with horse-racing, 

 with men bible-reading, writing home, washing, quietly rest- 

 ing, gambling, and fighting, is enough to make a reputation. 

 He is fond of bright sunshine, and he makes it glare with all 

 the brilliancy of midday under a California sky. Wm. Hahn, 

 an excellent figure painter, has not yet determined to make 

 his permanent home here. S. M. BrQpkes, as a painter of still 

 life, is unsurpassed on our continent. 



The Art Association of San Francisco has taken a firm foot- 

 hold and given some very creditable exhibitions, and it prom- 

 ises to become the nucleus of a permanent art-school. 



33. Religion. In 1870, California had 643 religious con- 

 gregations, 532 houses of worship, and seats in them for 195,- 

 000 persons, or space for about one-third of the population. 

 The property of these congregations was valued at $7,404,000, 

 or about $13,000 for each church, on an average. The Catho- 

 lics have 144 churches, 66,000 seats, and property valued at 

 $4,600,000, or more than one-fourth of the churches, one-third 

 of the seats, and one-half of all the church property in the 

 State. The Methodists have 155 churches, the Baptists 115, 

 the Presbyterians and Congregationalists95, the Episcopalians 

 38, and others smaller numbers. The Jews have seven, the 

 Mormons three, and the Spiritualists two. The people gener- 

 ally are not strict in their adherence to ecclesiastical regula- 



