Carol H. Beck
Beck (1859-1908) was an American historical painter, critic and writer.
Carol H. Beck
- Name
- Carol Beck
- Born
- 1859
- Birthplace
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
- Died
- October 14, 1908
- Education
- Académie Julian Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
- Known for
- Painting Criticism Writing
- Nationality
- United States
- Occupation
- painter · journalist · writer · art historian
- Teachers
- Thomas Eakins · William Merritt Chase
- Honours
- Mary Smith Prize
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wikidata · Q19877704 · wikipedia · Carol H. Beck
In this article
Biography
Biography
Beck studied at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and Académie Julian. Training under Thomas Eakins and William Merritt Chase is recorded. Works named in the authority record are Catalogue of the W.P. Memorial hall, Fairmount park, Philadelphia. Distinctions recorded are Mary Smith Prize.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Carol Beck • Born — 1859 • Birthplace — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States • Died — October 14, 1908 • Place of death — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States • Education — Académie Julian Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts • Known for — Painting Criticism Writing
Life and work
Life and work
She was a student the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Schools from 1879 to 1884, where she studied under Thomas Eakins. She studied in Dresden, and at the Académie Julian in Paris. She returned to PAFA in 1899, where she did additional study under William Merritt Chase. She received PAFA's 1899 Mary Smith Prize for best painting by a Philadelphia woman artist. She was a Fellow of the Academy and a member of the Plastic Club, Philadelphia. Beck painted portraits and her works were frequently exhibited. Well-known portraits include Governor Robert E. Pattison, painted for the Pennsylvania State Capitol, as well as a portrait of her brother Hon. James M. Beck. Her portraits were also seen in the University of Pennsylvania, in the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, in Wesleyan College, at the capitols of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and other public places, as well as in many private homes. Beck edited the Catalogue of the William P. Wilstach Collection of Paintings in Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. For some years and until her death, she was one of the managers of the Fellowships of the Pennsylvania Academy. On an order from Andrew Carnegie, she painted William Penn in armor for the Pennsylvania Society in New York, and several portraits for Skibo Castle.
Beck Gold Medal
The now defunct Carol H. Beck Gold Medal was awarded for the best painting by an American artist exhibited at PAFA's annual exhibitions. Founded in 1908 by James M. Beck, in memory of his sister, it was first awarded in 1909. The portrait had to have been painted within the prior three years, and an artist could be awarded the medal only once. Recipients included John Singer Sargent, Robert Henri, George Bellows, John Sloan and Thomas Hart Benton.
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Carol H. Beck, revision 1374957605 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
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Studied at
1- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine ArtsOrganisation
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 26 August 2026.
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