George Jacob Beck Paintings & Artwork for Sale | George Jacob Beck Art Value Price Guide

Oct. 02, 2024
ATTRIBUTED TO GEORGE BECK (BRITISH-AMERICAN 1749-1812)
Est: £800 - £1,200
ATTRIBUTED TO GEORGE BECK (BRITISH-AMERICAN 1749-1812) CASTLE RISING, NORFOLK signed and inscribed, Castle Rising, Norfolk / by Mr Beck, verso pen and brown ink and watercolour on laid paper 27 x 35cm; 10 1/2 x 13 3/4in framed George Beck was born in Staffordshire. His English, Welsh and Irish landscapes were often compared to those of Richard Wilson but considered less accomplished. However he was praised for the way in which he captured the light and sky. He and his wife emigrated to America in 1795 and it was here that his reputation really grew. His best-known paintings The Potomac River Breaking through the Blue Ridge and The Great Falls of the Potomac (ca.1796-1797) were subsequently purchased by George Washington in 1797 to be hung in the New Room that Washington had built at Mount Vernon following the Revolutionary War.
Olympia Auctions
Sep. 17, 2016
Pivotal Early Views of Washington, DC by George Beck
Est: $200,000 - $300,000
The Falls of the Potomac. George Jacob Beck (1748-1812). Oil on paper, c. 1801. 16 1/2 x 22 1/2 inches visible, 21 x 27 inches framed. THE FIRST VIEW OF THE POTOMAC RIVER BY GEORGE WASHINGTONS FAVORITE ARTIST.Washington was impressed by Becks ability to capture the beauty of the Potomac and purchased two companion views of Becks Great Falls of the Potomac, now part of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association Union Collection. George Beck was one of the earliest professional English-trained landscape painters in America, counting William Winstanley, William Groombridge, and Francis Guy as his contemporaries. Among his pioneering depictions of the American wilderness (Olsen), Georgetown and the City of Washington and A North View of the City of Washington, are important and evocative portraits of the Nations Capitol at its renaissance. Beck was one of the first individuals to push beyond the representational limits of topographical draughtsmanship (Olsen). These watercolor gouaches of Washington is clearly a companion in style as well as subject to The Potomac River Breaking through the Blue Ridge and Great Falls of the Potomac (ca.1796-1797), combining as it does topographical detail with a Romantic atmosphere. Both of these works were purchased by George Washington in January 1797, from Samuel Salter (1768-1834) as Becks agent, for $158.75. There were to be hung in the New Room that Washington had built at Mount Vernon following the Revolutionary War, where they can be viewed today. The original entry in Washingtons account book recording the acquisition can be seen amongst the Papers of George Washington at the University of Virginia. George Beck and his wife emigrated to America in 1795, drawn to the newly settled wilderness, which Beck was to portray so successfully in this paintings as well as his others. They settled in Baltimore where George first painted scenes of the Potomac, and achieved immediate success. Following Washingtons commission William Hamilton, the well-known patron of English and American artists, commissioned Beck to paint a view of the Woodlands, Hamiltons elaborately landscaped estate in Philadelphia. At Hamiltons suggestion, in 1798 Beck settled in that city, then the capital of the country and its largest, most cultivated urban center; he opened drawing schools for men and women to subsidize his income, and his wife established a ladies seminary (Olsen). However their time in Philadelphia was relatively short-lived. Beck first appears in the Philadelphia directory of 1798 as a landscape painter at 106 Walnut Street; in 1799 and 1800 on South Fifth Street near Chestnut; in 1801, 1802, 1803, at 51 South Fifth Street; and in 1804 ad 1805 as living near 51 South Fifth Street, all in very close proximity to Samuel Salters properties... he may well have been a tenant. The legendary beauty of the American west tempted the Becks to leave Philadelphia in 1804 and explore the western frontier: Pittsburgh, Niagara Falls, Ohio and Kentucky. The newly settled wilderness held a great appeal for [Beck], providing the opportunity of exploring relatively unspoiled nature while living in a social milieu where he and his wife hoped to attract patrons and students. In Kentucky he developed a freer style, and his works increasingly celebrated the unspoiled richness of the frontier. They reveal his fascination with the subjective power and mystery of nature (Roberta Olsen Drawn by New York, pages 63-66).
Arader Galleries
Sep. 17, 2016
Pivotal Early Views of Washington, DC by George Beck
Est: $300,000 - $400,000
A North View of the City of Washington. George Jacob Beck (1748-1812). Gouache and watercolor on paper in gold-leaf frame. c.1795-1798. 15 x 19 1/2 inches visible, 24 x 29 inches framed. THE BIRTH OF WASHINGTON, D.C. An exceptionally fine original gouache on paper of the city of Washington, taken from the Eastern Branch of the Potomac River, looking north. George Beck was one of the earliest professional English-trained landscape painters in America, counting William Winstanley, William Groombridge, and Francis Guy as his contemporaries. Among his pioneering depictions of the American wilderness (Olsen), Georgetown and the City of Washington and A North View of the City of Washington, are important and evocative portraits of the Nations Capitol at its renaissance. Beck was one of the first individuals to push beyond the representational limits of topographical draughtsmanship (Olsen). These watercolor gouaches of Washington is clearly a companion in style as well as subject to The Potomac River Breaking through the Blue Ridge and Great Falls of the Potomac (ca.1796-1797), combining as it does topographical detail with a Romantic atmosphere. Both of these works were purchased by George Washington in January 1797, from Samuel Salter (1768-1834) as Becks agent, for $158.75. There were to be hung in the New Room that Washington had built at Mount Vernon following the Revolutionary War, where they can be viewed today. The original entry in Washingtons account book recording the acquisition can be seen amongst the Papers of George Washington at the University of Virginia. George Beck and his wife emigrated to America in 1795, drawn to the newly settled wilderness, which Beck was to portray so successfully in this paintings as well as his others. They settled in Baltimore where George first painted scenes of the Potomac, and achieved immediate success. Following Washingtons commission William Hamilton, the well-known patron of English and American artists, commissioned Beck to paint a view of the Woodlands, Hamiltons elaborately landscaped estate in Philadelphia. At Hamiltons suggestion, in 1798 Beck settled in that city, then the capital of the country and its largest, most cultivated urban center; he opened drawing schools for men and women to subsidize his income, and his wife established a ladies seminary (Olsen). However their time in Philadelphia was relatively short-lived. Beck first appears in the Philadelphia directory of 1798 as a landscape painter at 106 Walnut Street; in 1799 and 1800 on South Fifth Street near Chestnut; in 1801, 1802, 1803, at 51 South Fifth Street; and in 1804 ad 1805 as living near 51 South Fifth Street, all in very close proximity to Samuel Salters properties... he may well have been a tenant. The legendary beauty of the American west tempted the Becks to leave Philadelphia in 1804 and explore the western frontier: Pittsburgh, Niagara Falls, Ohio and Kentucky. The newly settled wilderness held a great appeal for [Beck], providing the opportunity of exploring relatively unspoiled nature while living in a social milieu where he and his wife hoped to attract patrons and students. In Kentucky he developed a freer style, and his works increasingly celebrated the unspoiled richness of the frontier. They reveal his fascination with the subjective power and mystery of nature (Roberta Olsen Drawn by New York, pages 63-66).
Arader Galleries
Sep. 17, 2016
Pivotal Early Views of Washington, DC by George Beck
Est: $300,000 - $400,000
Georgetown and the City of Washington. George Jacob Beck (1748-1812). Gouache and watercolor on paper in gold-lead frame. c. 1795. 15 3/4 x 20 1/2 inches visible, 24 x 29 inches framed. THE FIRST VIEW OF DC AND GEORGETOWN DRAWN BY GEORGE WASHINGTONS FAVORITE ARTIST. This view is taken from above Georgetown on the district side, and shows Analostan Island (the former designation for Theodore Roosevelt Island) in the Potomac River, with Georgetown in the background on the left. George Beck was one of the earliest professional English-trained landscape painters in America, counting William Winstanley, William Groombridge, and Francis Guy as his contemporaries. Among his pioneering depictions of the American wilderness (Olsen), Georgetown and the City of Washington and A North View of the City of Washington, are important and evocative portraits of the Nations Capitol at its renaissance. Beck was one of the first individuals to push beyond the representational limits of topographical draughtsmanship (Olsen). These watercolor gouaches of Washington is clearly a companion in style as well as subject to The Potomac River Breaking through the Blue Ridge and Great Falls of the Potomac (ca.1796-1797), combining as it does topographical detail with a Romantic atmosphere. Both of these works were purchased by George Washington in January 1797, from Samuel Salter (1768-1834) as Becks agent, for $158.75. There were to be hung in the New Room that Washington had built at Mount Vernon following the Revolutionary War, where they can be viewed today. The original entry in Washingtons account book recording the acquisition can be seen amongst the Papers of George Washington at the University of Virginia. George Beck and his wife emigrated to America in 1795, drawn to the newly settled wilderness, which Beck was to portray so successfully in this paintings as well as his others. They settled in Baltimore where George first painted scenes of the Potomac, and achieved immediate success. Following Washingtons commission William Hamilton, the well-known patron of English and American artists, commissioned Beck to paint a view of the Woodlands, Hamiltons elaborately landscaped estate in Philadelphia. At Hamiltons suggestion, in 1798 Beck settled in that city, then the capital of the country and its largest, most cultivated urban center; he opened drawing schools for men and women to subsidize his income, and his wife established a ladies seminary (Olsen). However their time in Philadelphia was relatively short-lived. Beck first appears in the Philadelphia directory of 1798 as a landscape painter at 106 Walnut Street; in 1799 and 1800 on South Fifth Street near Chestnut; in 1801, 1802, 1803, at 51 South Fifth Street; and in 1804 ad 1805 as living near 51 South Fifth Street, all in very close proximity to Samuel Salters properties... he may well have been a tenant. The legendary beauty of the American west tempted the Becks to leave Philadelphia in 1804 and explore the western frontier: Pittsburgh, Niagara Falls, Ohio and Kentucky. The newly settled wilderness held a great appeal for [Beck], providing the opportunity of exploring relatively unspoiled nature while living in a social milieu where he and his wife hoped to attract patrons and students. In Kentucky he developed a freer style, and his works increasingly celebrated the unspoiled richness of the frontier. They reveal his fascination with the subjective power and mystery of nature (Roberta Olsen Drawn by New York, pages 63-66).
Arader Galleries
Mar. 02, 2014
Attributed to George Beck (British/Baltimore/Philadelphia, 1748-1812) A South View of the City of Washington. Unsigned, titled in a per
Est: $3,000 - $5,000
Attributed to George Beck (British/Baltimore/Philadelphia, 1748-1812) A South View of the City of Washington. Unsigned, titled in a period ink inscription on verso. Gouache on paper, 14 1/2 x 19 1/2 in., in a later molded giltwood frame with eglomise mat. Condition: Minor specks of paint loss, small moisture stain c.l. Note: George Beck was a landscape artist born in Staffordshire, England. He was mostly self-educated and was employed in 1776 by the Corps of Royal Engineers, drawing maps and battle plans in the Tower of London, which helped to hone his artistic talents. His early British landscapes and those by his wife Mary, also an artist, were featured at the Royal Academy of London from 1780-1793. In 1795, the couple migrated to the United States, hoping the sale of their paintings would be more profitable. The Becks first lived in Baltimore, where George painted scenes of the Potomac River, including two works, The Potomac River Breaking through the Blue Ridge, and The Great Falls of the Potomac (c. 1796-1797) which were purchased by George Washington in 1797 to hang at Mount Vernon. The couple moved to Philadelphia for a short time before they traveled from Philadelphia in 1804 to Pittsburgh, Niagara Falls, and Ohio, finally settling in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1809. Mary opened a girl's school there and George established a boy's school, but devoted most of his time to painting, writing poetry, and translating classic Greek and Roman texts. The Becks remained in Lexington until George's death in 1812.
Skinner
Dec. 08, 2012
CIRCLE OF GEORGE BECK (ENGLISH, 1748-1812) LANDSCAPE WITH SHEPHERDS Oil on panel: 10 x 14 in.
Est: $1,700 - $2,000
CIRCLE OF GEORGE BECK (ENGLISH, 1748-1812) LANDSCAPE WITH SHEPHERDS Oil on panel: 10 x 14 in. Framed; Baltimore stamp on back
Potomack Company
Nov. 14, 2012
American School 19th century, After George Beck (English, 1748-1812), view of philadelphia taken from the great tree at kensington in 1
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
American School 19th century, After George Beck (English, 1748-1812) view of philadelphia taken from the great tree at kensington in 1801 Watercolor, pen and pencil on paper, framed. 17 3/4 in. x 22 3/4 in. (sight) PROVENANCE: Note on verso, "A bequest to Dr. Hugh B. Campbell from Dr. Jer. J. Manwaring 1928." Lot is accompanied by photocopied Certificate of Authenticity, dated January 17, 1981.
Freeman's | Hindman
Sep. 26, 2008
George Jacob Beck 1748-1812 , The Falls on the Potomac, circa 1801 oil on paper mounted on board
Est: $7,000 - $9,000
With a paper label inscribed by the artist Great Falls, Potomac on the reverse. oil on paper mounted on board
Sotheby's
Sep. 26, 2008
George Jacob Beck 1748-1812 , Georgetown and Washington City gouache on paper
Est: $5,000 - $8,000
painted 1795-1797 In the original frame and églomisé mat. gouache on paper
Sotheby's
Sep. 26, 2008
George Jacob Beck 1748-1812 , McCall's Ferry on the Susquehannah and Schuykill Below the Falls: Two works watercolor on paper
Est: $6,000 - $8,000
In the original frames with the original églomisé mats. watercolor on paper
Sotheby's