William Holbrook Beard

William Holbrook Beard studied at Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are portrait, genre and singerie. Work by William Holbrook Beard is recorded in the collections of Brooklyn Museum, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Brandywine Museum of Art and Smithsonian American Art Museum.

• Name — William Holbrook Beard • Born — 13 April 1824 • Birthplace — Painesville, Ohio, U.S. • Died — 20 February 1900 • Place of death — New York City, U.S. • Relatives — James Henry Beard (brother) Daniel Carter Beard (nephew)

• Illustration — Self-Portrait in the Studio, 1860 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.

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.

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

The authorities additionally record the headings W. Beard and William H. He was the child of Capt. James Beard and Harriet Beard. One child is recorded: Wolcott LeCléar Beard.