# Christopher Shearer

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**Christopher High Shearer** (1846–1926) was a prolific American painter in [Berks County, Pennsylvania](/source/Berks_County,_Pennsylvania), known primarily for his large [landscape](/source/Landscape) paintings. Christopher Shearer was born May 18, 1846, in [Reading, Pennsylvania](/source/Reading,_Pennsylvania) to Christopher and Catherine Shearer. As a boy, Shearer spent time in the [studios](/source/Studio) of [artists](/source/Artist) [Francis Daniel Devlan](/source/Francis_Daniel_Devlan) and [John Heyl Raser](/source/John_Heyl_Raser). At age 18, Christopher showed an interest in painting professionally, and became a student of both Devlan and Raser. His father helped him by building him a studio in the backyard of his farm in Shearertown (present day [Muhlenberg Township](/source/Muhlenberg_Township,_Pennsylvania)). At the age of 21, Shearer opened his own studio in Reading and was very successful in selling his works locally. By age 27 Shearer was nationally recognized artist.

He later traveled to Europe, abandoning his wife [Sallie Shearer](/source/Sallie_Shearer) and their sons, and studied in [Düsseldorf](/source/D%C3%BCsseldorf) and [Munich](/source/Munich). Shearer exhibited his works at the [Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts](/source/Pennsylvania_Academy_of_the_Fine_Arts) and at an art exhibition celebrating the [United States](/source/United_States) [Centennial](/source/Centennial) in 1876. In 1878, on a return trip to [Germany](/source/Germany), he was awarded a Gold Medal by the [Düsseldorf School of Art](/source/Kunstakademie_D%C3%BCsseldorf).[1] He also exhibited many of his works in a studio he opened in Reading in 1883.

Shearer was a teacher as well as an artist. He held many art classes in his Reading studio to encourage the development of art in Berks County and elsewhere in Pennsylvania. Shearer was instrumental in the founding of the [Reading Public Museum](/source/Reading_Public_Museum).[2] As a friend of Dr. [Levi Mengel](/source/Levi_Mengel) (the founder of the museum), Shearer was appointed the museum's chief art [curator](/source/Curator) until his death. He also enjoyed collecting [butterflies](/source/Butterflies), [moths](/source/Moth) and [bugs](/source/Invertebrate) and kept detailed records and drawings of these [insects](/source/Insect). Shearer died in Reading in 1926.

Many of his works now hang in the Reading Museum or private collections. His paintings are part of several collections, including ones in Canada, Australia, Germany, and the United States.

## Notes

1. [Christopher Shearer biography](http://www.askart.com/AskART/artists/biography.aspx?artist=23130) at [AskART.com](http://www.askart.com)

1. Malmberg, Valerie. *Artists of Berks County an Overview 1850-1920*, p. 29

## References

- Malmberg, Valerie. *Artists of Berks County an Overview 1850-1920*
- Morton Montgomery. *Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals*

## External links

- [Artwork by Christopher Shearer](https://www.bedfordfineartgallery.com/christopher_high_shearer_bridge.html)

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