Robert Haley Asher Paintings
Peter Brueggeman, 2025
* Robert Haley
Asher,
} 9 September 1945
Robert Haley Asher was born 28 March 1868, in California to parents Josephus Marian Asher, Sr. and Sarah H. Clark. Robert Asher’s father was a nurseryman and County Assessor in San Diego.
Robert Asher first visited Palomar Mountain in 1901, and settled on Palomar Mountain in 1903. Asher lived in the Pauma Creek / State Park area on Palomar Mountain. The Bailey family was responsible for his interest in Palomar Mountain as he met Olie Bailey
while in school in San Diego, aad iaer in “1901, Theo Bailey brought him up on his first visit to Palomar Mountain. Asher stayed with the Bailey’ s, and then camped at Iron Springs. Asher
homesteaded on Palomar Mountain, and ultimately had 160 acres.
Robert Asher took Maurice Braun’s class in oil painting at Mesa Grande. Asher moved off Palomar Mountain in 1946 for health reasons. He moved to his sister's (Mrs. Josephine A. Vacher) place in El Cajon at the sharp bend in Fuerte Road on the east side of Mount Helix,
where he slept in a tent in her backyard, and later a cabin he built. Asher continued to visit Palomar Mountain until 1951, and passed away in 25 April 1953 at age 85. He never married, and is buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery in San Diego. In his immediate family, Robert Asher was survived by his sister Mrs. Josephine A. Vacher of El Cajon, a sister Mrs. Dorcas Drown of Spring Valley, and a brother Josephus Asher of Mission Beach.
Robert Asher compiled a list of his paintings in 1939, which is at the end of this document. Some of the paintings below are identifiable in that list and are linked with his comments.
The family of Josephine Vacher, the brother of Robert Asher, holds many Asher paintings (via Jennifer Wassel). Three are owned by the family of Marian Weber (#2 and #28 via Gaylene Eisenach).
No.c. Name; Price:
Tan question mark on green Slope -- oaks and firs beyond &@epainst a greenish mountain and a pale greenisn sky. 18x<l.
306.5 Name?! Frice:
Yellow tree throwing curious shadow -- part of conifer in front and to left -- on green and yellow flat -- blue ridge in Yackground. Very little sky showing. 20x26.
No. &. Name: Frice:
Rolling busny yellow ana green point -- eucalyptus, -reen ridge, blue ridge, greeny-yellow sky. <0 x <6 l/c.
No. G. Name: Price:
Slaniing-rocks foreground -- part of large ock at left -- siuall fir at right -- wooded slope -- nigh bare slope -- very livtle pale sky. 20 x 16.
woele. Name; 2race:
Rocky ~reen flat -- two flat oak trees -- far blue ridge a and pale greenish sky. 18 x el.
wo. 16. Name: Price:
Tigcr lilies. if & At.
Bo.lsd. wame: rrice:
Yellow and rocky ,Frounu -- big Spreading ceuar with dead top. SU X Kz.
NO.19. Name: Price:
ureen shale -- rocks -- brush --yellow tree miualegrouna -- line vi cedars beyond -- glimpse of a peck against sky almost covered by foliae. <2 x18 1/é.
wOw Zk. av ale 3 sriee:
Little stream in center -- bank at leit -- Slone of tres at right -- crussy ridge -- with trces backed by wlue ridée Sealnst blue sky. 20 x cE.
Mo. <6. Name: Price:
Yeliow and ~reen ground -- hole of big tree at right -- jel low tree at left -- yellow ridge against depp blue ridge against blue sky. 16 x fl.
No. 26. Name: Price:
“Upper Sweetwater” in lovely pale shades. 22 x 30.
No. 4l. Name: Price:
White-barked sycamore trees at left and right of path running out of sight between green trees snowing glimpse ot ridse, 2a beyond a blueish ridge apainst pale Sxy.1loxcc.
No, 44, Name: Price:
Big rocks ana trees and ,rassy patcn in forcgeround ---- eYassy Slore beyond and two brushy slopes against cloudy blue s«y. lz x 16.
No. 46. Name: ; Price:
13m
Rolling yellowish ~rassy foreground -= big tree at left. Woodea draw -- ,rassy sjope to rignt -- grassy : es be- yond rolli’, -- to wooded ridge against cioudy *skg16 x 0.
hiame: Price:
WOane Valley -- rolling fore and mi pines left -- foliace botn sides - wooded riuge ageinst « bit of yellow green sky. 41 1/2
x 54,
ddle ~rouaa, big - €limpse of wasn and
Robert H. Aster, his Puintiiig-s.
No.l. Name: Frice:
Yellow slope forepround e%¢ed with firs beyond. Brusn slope
beyond firs _ 2 blue slopes _ pale sky with clouds -- 22x50",
No.&. Name: Pe Price:
Tan question mark on green slope -- oaks and firs beyond against a greenish mountain and a pale greenisn sky. 18x<cl.
2
No.3. Name:
Several “Long eee “ete ey with ‘two trees in center backed witn line of trees: 2nd. tree-covered; naze between that and Zrd, whicn is tree-covered and hazy: more haze and 4th. nazy slope; more haze and Eth slope; ditto a 7th ; 8th and Gth short rid.es. fog line and blue sky at back. 2O0xes".
No.4. Name: Price: Red and yellow swale backed by bushes, colorful undula-
tions backed by line of treese-- hazy strip and wooded ridge. Yellow and blue sky. 22xz6 1/2.
No.&. Name: Frice: Yellow tree throwing curious shadow -- part of conifer in
front and to left -- on green and yellow flat -- blue ridge in ea Very little sky showing. 20x26.
pore Name: Prices Eushy green foreground -- yellow middleground with a scat-
tering of oaks and firs -- Campsite Hill in background -- bi § white bird clouds in greeny-blue sky. 16x20.
No.7. Name: Frice:
Big rock -- Hill cabin -- trees -- far wooded slope, green and purple stippled effect sky. 20 x 16.
Prt ena ee
(2) Asher's Paintings at Hill's. ho. &. Name: Price:
Rolling, busny yellow ana green point -- eucalyptus, ~reen ridge, blue ridge, greeny-yellow sky. <0 x <6 l/c.
No. Ge Name: Price:
Slaniing-rocks foreground -- part of large oak at left -- sua@ll fir at right -- wooded slope -- high bare slope -- very little pale sky. 20 x 16.
No. 10.... Name: . aes os ge) WP RLECE +
warm green flat -- part of big tree on right and én left. wooded ridge -- fogey strip -- wooded ridge -- foegy sky. 16 x <0.
No. lll. Name: Price:
siadow mottled foreground -- two tree boles at left. bob's cabin nestled in trees -- brusny ridge veyond aid a very narrow strip of sky. 14x 18 l/é.
WO.elk. Name: rice:
Rocky ~reen flat -- two flat oak trees -- far blue ridge a and pale greenish sky. 18 x 21.
No. 15. Name; Prices —
Colorful bushy foreground -- old stone wall (?)--- green swale -- oak ridge -- two misty blue ridges against a green- ish sky. 18 x Zl.
No, 14. Name: Price:
Little rocky stream -- steep banks -- big colorful rucks at Yignt -- little tree with new foliage at far point of stream -- trees in full foliage against white clouds and pale sky. 16 xX 20.
CS) Asner's Faintings at kill's.
No. LE. Names Price:
#oreeround green brusny slope -- yellow trees a,ainst
deep blue rid,jes with sunset sky. <0 X ZO. NO. 16. Name: Price: EiEck Liles. Se ane eed 3 er No.17. IN AIUE 5 brice: Pink SuMfcect. | e160 a ° fe. DO ds names £LLCeS
Yellow and rocky grounu -- big spreading ceuar with dead top. SU X Ké.
Nio.19. Name: Price: ureen swale -- rocks -- brush --yellow tree miudlegrounda --
line vf cedars beyond -- glimpse of a peak apzainst sky almost covered by foliage. <2 X18 1/2.
NOs 2U, Wame: erice:
"peacn's Hlower-Garden." sSrush and big rock in colorful foreground -- rocks ana trees at cdge of flat -- bluish
merxed nili in vackzround against cloudy sky. ka X SO. wO. Zl. wame: crces
"Seven Sisters." Little stream right tnrough midale --- clay banks, brush and trecs, and, in background, seven coni- fers against bluish hills and a littie paie blue sky at top.
ke x 26.
WO. Ze. walne ; FTLEC:
Little stream in center -- bank at leit -- slone of trees at Yight -- grassy ridge -- wign trees backed by volue ridge Sealnst blue sky. 20 2-264
(4) Asucr's Paintings at Hill's. wo. 235. Name; rrice:
uYassy point -- pinkish rocks -- slender shrubs -- one tree on left - - three smaller trees on right -- mist and a near tree-covered ridge -- mist and a far misty tree-cover- ed ridge against a pale greenisn and wviue bit of sky. 20x28.
WHO. 24. Name: rrice:
Colorful broked brushy swale -- big tree at right -- rocks at left -- trees beyond outlined against misty pi ridge with bunch of blue trees on top.-- outlined..ag i yellowish misty erege jridge -- narrow strip of,
ities A ei ee a a ?
NO.w ct. Name: Price: ey
Rocky foreground -- green swale -- big tree at left -- Suarply rising brushy slope at right showing a light colored ridge against a dark ridge which in turn is outlined against blue mountain -- sky shading from pale rose through yellow to aark greeny blue. 1& x Zl.
Ho. <6. Name: Price: Yeliow aud ~reen ground -- bole of big, tree @i right -- yel
low tree at left -- yellow ridge against deyp blue ridge against blue sky. 16 x 1.
Ho. e%. Name: Price:
Gabin at right vith trees. on edge of blue’ curly om: -- glimy- cf rid.e sinet velewblue sky. 29 X 22. f
Ses No. 26. Name: Price:
“Upper Sweetwater" in lovely pale shades. 2e x 30.
NO. <9. Name: Price:
Yeilow broken fore,round -- yellow tree on left -- yeilow Yiuee at Tight -- pale illus trecewouvdea at baca« against vweyy pale sky. 22x £9 1/2.
bo. SO. Naine rrice:
Yellow flowered fore,round -- pliosaiou Slope beyond out- linca in trees against olué pean -- some trees and brusn
and big rocks -- EYecnlsrn aa blue Saye BE K SO. No. Sl. Name: erice:
Colorful forepround -- big rock on rigntsnowing part of ptorenouse benind it -- trees surrounding teepec inmiddle uivvance. ulimpses of greenish sky. 16 x 20, ts.
NO. 32. Name: “». Price:
wviffercnt view of teepee snowing ferns and rock and trees
in background -- glimpses of sky. L6. % 20s No. 3. Name: Price:
big rock left -- bigger rock right -- little stream be- tween. Tree beyond and wooded slop. -- Inree dim ridges of different colors against strip of cloudy sky. me oh Os
WO. 34. Name: Price:
rats running up a rocky brushy slope -- parts of three sloping ridges against blue sky. 18 3/4 x17.
NO. 3c, Name: krice:
wry grass foreground -- small rocks and brush -- pale pale ~reen tree about center. Trees and orushy hill slope beyond against pale blue sky. 12x16.
No. 56. Name: krice:
Dark forezround -- big old tree against distant blue ridge and heavy clouded sky. zO x 16.
No. 27. Name: Price:
Hocky point with one spindley tree at left center ap,ainst amisty green wooded ridge witn light mist beyond and anotrer wooded ridge. Pale sky. Be *. 265
Lé) Asher's Paintings at Hill's.
No. do. Name: Price:
NUgecSled Toad between rocky vanks -- tree center ictt -- otner trees Tight -- distant wooued riage. heavy clouds with
Gurk liniics across sky. 14 x 16. NOs G9 Name: Price;
"Postwan's Trail." Rolling golden.,recn foregroundgang ceater -- four trees on to; of ridge at left -- clumps: shaller trecs at right -- three distant misty Qjicds against a pale sky. ' £6 x 20. i
_ a.
No. 40, Name: : ' PEice; ¥Y
Heavy shadow of trees on golden grourd -- big rock at ritnt with shadowed -reen underside -- big rocks and trees at back outlined apainst distant brusny ridge. rale sky.
16 X Ke.
Be : a
No. Gl. Namc: Price: White-barked sycamore trees at left and right of path
running out of sight between -recn trees snowing glimpse of ridge, and beyond a blueish ridge a,ainst pale sky.1lOxcx.
No. 46. Name: Price:
Sloping brusny foreground 1/é big tree, and rock, on
right -- tree on left -- wooded draw -- orusny slore to right -- anu tnen araw and higher scantily wooded rid¢e at back against a pale sky. <6 1/2 x 21 if4.
No. 43. Nae; Price:
Stream bed with big rocks in fore;round. Snadowed valley floor with saddle horse under four big pines -- wash and
wooded riage against Cloudy blue sky. 28 x «0 1fé. No. 44. Name: Price:
Big rocks and trees and crassy patecn in foreground ---- grassy slocre beyond and two brushy slopes against cloudy blue sxy. ig x 1lé.
oe eS
(7) Asner's Pictures at hill's,
No. 4. Name: Price:
Grassy yellow foreground -- flat gray rocks -- one shrub -- ,rassy slope beyond wooded draw -- a brusht slope beyond and a faint glimpse of distant blue ridge against cloudy sky. le x 16.
No. 46. Name: ; Price: 4g
Rolling yellowish grassy foreground == big tree at left. a Woodea Graw -- grassy slope to right -- grassy : Spes be- * yond rolliv, -- to Wooded ridge against cloudy ‘skg@16 x 0.. #
eae in ce me a a ee i eae a ie pamis ple: ane oe
io. 47. Name: ree oe Bi ce:.
Rocks in yellow grassy foreground -- single tree beyond at left -- clump at rift -- vrushy ridges beyond against ekeu¥-eiky Cloudy sky. 14x18.
No. 4&. Names Price:
Sbugeestion of road oetween big rocks in colorful fore-
-round. Brusny wooded ridges with four nigner trees on
Oop against sky line at right -- at left a blue ridge -- thunder heads against greeny sky at top. 21 1/4 x 26.
No. 49. Name: Price:
Close up of Tceepee with tree at leit -- broken tree at Yignt --other trees anutwo wooded ridges veyond against rich green ana blue sky. aan £6.
Ho. 60. Name: Price: Joanne Valley -- rollin; id oe oe : & fore and middle ;roadc pines left -- foliace botn ey wooded ridge a.ein
; Big
eae, ek Sides ~~ glimpse of wasn and
St a bit of yellow green sky. 41 1/2 x 34,
Pictures Painted by Ren.wAsner belonging to Alice L.P.hill.
A: faesa Granae -- yellow swale -- poplar tree at left -- Powam Lodj.e pump house 1. c. trees and brush dotted slopes beyond. Ad leit glimpse of blue ridge -- pale sky. le x 1lé.
B5:C,lucsa Granae. big rock at right --rocky brushy foregrouna -- trees -- ana distant glimpses of peaks and wooueu slopes -- blue peak center back -- cloudy sky. leo» 1lé.
Bs mesa Grande. Boles of two trees shading forcee,round ---- bYusuy or woodea uraw -- wood dotted nills ceyond -- Ely ot pale sky. lex 1é. ¢
D: & ro jana. -- oFascy cages ea knoll nee ane up woigrces | 1b aya Trees ay vop of knoll turowing ‘heavy shade and "aii pe Se toe |
v
“Sptist aye si ereca ‘sky "3
BE: Pine killed by pine beetles -- against gercen sky flecked With wnite wisps of cloud. 40 a 54. ,
ay Crayon sketch cf road andtrees at Bailey's. 10 alé4. G: Crayon of hill cabin from fern patch. 9 x lé.
he Green floor of valley after rain. Big yellow tree on left -- sky reflected in water center -- bit of rocky sloye at right --green ycollow and orange color¢ea trees along swale alia atl back green ridge a.ainst cloudy sky. le x 1é.
&: Parcs.ea foreground -- bare sycamore at left -- ereen trees at right -- e~reen alfalfa putch in miudle distarce -- trecs -- yellow,tan, and ¢ray ridges beyund -- steep and rocky a-ainst pale sky. Bek OU
di: Tunnel tnrouga tne litac on road to top of #rencn Valley hill. lo x 14,
K: Fath trough ¢rassy cpening -- past rose thicket --. trees
beyoua -- green ridges -- blue ridges -- crecney=blue sky.18x2 18 x, Khe
Li: "Lark Meadow." Green With yellow drifts of ‘flowers’ --
tence across fore,round., Hills beyond wits. scattered clumps
of trves -- blue peak left -~ rid.e beyord -- sky tull of
Oo
tnunuer neads. ce X BO.
dis Long vista of Doane Valley -- pines each side -- wooded ridge against pale sky. 16 x <0.
Ni "Wind." Brusny ledge -- pale ridges against storm
clouds -- two tall slim trees in foreground blown by wind.?7 1/ 7 1f/2x10.
QO: #ore,roaund little stream -- steep cut tanks rignt and part
ly ceen left -- willows beyond -- tnen conifers -- and a
wooded ridge against a dark gray-blue sky. 12x 16.
Pictures by Asner belonging to Mrs. Hill.
—— fa] eed
em ew we eB Oe EO OO Owe we Be eee ee ee me eee
Fr: “karen of tue Giants." Odd siaped trees marcning across gVvassy meadow -- wooded ridge to rignt. Blue San miguel ag agalnst cloudy sSusiset sky. Bea. Oks
Q: woodlard with glimpses of grass opening in center. In the rignt center the bole of the tree is red. 14 x 16.
RR: big rocks in rignt foreground -- yellow trees left --- couifers rignt -- glimpses of meadow in betwcen -- tree, clad ridges to strip of cloudy sky. 14x 168. y
ae aa 3S: #renchman's Cabin in Lower Frenth Valley -- a sunses picture with long Shadow to foreground from cabgn. kocks# Lert -- tees Tignt --+ wooded ridge at back apa wane isk Sky. 3 *
ee
tree r.c. == ecatvarea ode. edgéing distance aie rr «alnst vlue riage. Cloudy blue sky -- all clouds pink un- aer side -- purple above in blue eVetitun may.
us RetkKy ,osnt with three Dap t.re7 toucred By SuMitgnt-- in distance left mand woody ridge clue -- Yignt hand ridce Scattered trees ana sunlit -- far ridges misty -- sky pale yellowisn. Za xX 2.
Vi Yellow noint -- cig, sycamore left bending over rocks center -- blueish ridge -- with yellow road -- sky blue-- everything Very springlike in color and suggestion. le x 16.
Wi big, trees framing a Sunlit meadow with cabin at far edge backed Dy hHign wooded ridges -- wee glinpse of pale sky. 14 x 1&.
Ai Uoane Valiey in Fall -- yellow trees at left -- -reen and yellow trees eacn side of shadow striped grass and gray rocks. in distance canyon up Morgan Hill -- sunlit in ridges -- fall foliage -- glimpse of cloudy sky. le x 16.
ge. ¥: brusny green foreground lookiig across ridges to Saltoa bea and ridges beyond. oS: Ls —
43 Post card picture of Doane Valley paiiited in oils.
O.K. #coregoing correct. dune 26, 193,
sbL bf Lahor