William Holbrook Beard
Satirical paintings of anthropomorphic animals
William Holbrook Beard was an American artistic painter who is known best for his satirical paintings of beasts performing human-like activities. 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 an artistic painter. William is buried in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
Relationship Network
Master student
- Charles Caryl Coleman Student
Fellow student
Siblings
- James Henry Beard Elder
Artworks by this artist (17 total)
- His Majesty Receives 1885
- The March of Silenus circa 1862
- The Fox Hunter’s Dream 1859
- Lightning Struck a Flock of Witches
- Unlikely Friends
- The Lost Balloon 1882
- Deer on the Prairie 1884
- Divorce
- The Runaway Match 1877
- Bear in the Forest 1868
- It Rains It Shines, The Devil Whipping His Wife
- The Witches Convention 1876
- Power Of Death C. 1889-1890
- Indian Idyll 1876
- Mischievous Monk About 1872
- Winterscape with Crows
- Foxes And Rabbits 1874