Paul Frenzeny ( 1840 - 1902)

American artist and illustrator, renowned for his numerous illustrations produced during his travels across the United States.

Born in the 1840s, the exact location of Paul Frenzeny’s birth remains uncertain, with speculations suggesting France. Initially an artillery officer in Maximilian’s French army in Mexico, Frenzeny transitioned to the world of art after Maximilian’s execution in 1867. Settling in New York, he received art lessons and, along with Jules Tavernier, received a commission from Harper’s Weekly to embark on a journey from the East Coast to the West Coast. This expedition, initiated in 1873 and concluding in San Francisco in 1874, marked the beginning of their involvement with the Bohemian Club.

While Jules Tavernier returned to a full-time painting career, Paul Frenzeny continued contributing sketches to Harper’s Weekly and various publications, such as Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper and the Illustrated London News. Particularly fascinated by San Francisco’s Chinatown, he produced numerous illustrations of the area between 1874 and 1882. Following a period of sketching on the East Coast, Frenzeny traveled back to London aboard the ship State of Nebraska as one of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West riders.

Achieving significant recognition as a book illustrator, Frenzeny worked on notable works like Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina and Kipling’s Jungle Book. His career as a special correspondent persisted until his death in London in 1902. Known for his commitment to the authenticity of his observations and sketches, Frenzeny is regarded as one of the most prolific and accurate special correspondents of his era. His extensive travels covered diverse regions, including the Yukon, Siberia, China, Mexico, Guatemala, as well as the United States, England, and France.