William Holbrook Beard

William Holbrook Beard (April 13, 1824 – February 20, 1900) was an American artistic painter who is known best for his satirical paintings of beasts performing human-like activities.

William Holbrook Beard, 1890.

Life

Self Portrait in the Studio, 1860s, oil on canvas, New York Historical Society.

Beard was born in Painesville, Ohio. He studied abroad, is associated with the Düsseldorf school of painting, and during 1861 relocated to New York City, where, in 1862, he became a member of the National Academy of Design. Beard initiated his own artist's studio on Tenth Street in New York City in a building known as the Studio Building.

Beard was a prolific artist. His humorous treatment of bears, cats, dogs, horses and monkeys, generally with some human occupation and expression, usually satirical, gave him a great vogue at one time, and his pictures were much reproduced.

His brother, James Henry Beard (1814–1893), was also a painter.

William is buried in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

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  Beard, William Holbrook ~ Phantom Crane, 1891, oil on canvas.jpg
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  'The Witches' Ride' by William Holbrook Beard, 1870.jpg
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  0005 Scientists at Work by William Holbrook Beard.jpg
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  Seminole Child with Bittern by William Holbrook Beard.jpg
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  William Holbrook Beard - Deer on the Prairie.jpg
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  Beard, William Holbrook - His Majesty Receives - Google Art Project.jpg
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  Brooklyn Museum - In the Forest - William Holbrook Beard - overall.jpg
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  Brooklyn Museum - For What Was I Created? - William Holbrook Beard - overall.jpg
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  William holbrook beard, la scoperta di adamo, 1891.jpg
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  William Holbrook Beard - The Runaway Match - 1977.55 - Smithsonian American Art Museum.jpg
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  Susanna and the Elders, by William Holbrook Beard, 1865, oil on canvas - Currier Museum of Art - Manchester, NH - DSC07415.jpg (depicting the biblical theme of Susanna and the Elders)
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  Power of Death by William Holbrook Beard, detail, c. 1889-1890, oil on board - Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University - DSC01197.jpg
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  Flaw in the title - painted by W.H. Beard ; engraved by Saml. Holyer (sic). LCCN2013645198.tif

Article features

In 1999, William Beard was featured in an article in the American Art Journal written by Sarah Burns. He is mentioned among other political satirists of the mid to late 19th century.

Selected works

• Lo, The Poor Indian (1876) - oil painting, Utah Museum of Fine Arts.

External links

• Burial search at Green-Wood Cemetery
• W. H. Beard at Library of Congress, with 7 library catalog records
• Artwork by William Holbrook Beard
• The American Art Journal by Sarah Burns
• Find a Grave