Lot 279: Harry Beard (1840-1889) Original Drawing Used For Book 1891

Harry Beard (1840-1889) American artist, Illustrator, landscape, portrait, genre and still life painter. Born in Ohio, the son of the American genre painter, James Henry Beard, N.A. (1811 _ 1893).  He went by the name Harry to help differentiate himself from his famous father and was known as Captain Harry Beard for much of the 2nd half of his life.  All four of the Beard sons became professional artists, including James Carter (1837 _ 1913), James Henry Jr. Harry (1840 _ 1889), Thomas Francis (1842 _ 1905) and Daniel Carter Beard (1850 _ 1941).  Their uncle was the noted American artist, William Henry Beard, N.A. (1824 _ 1900).  While Beard painted extensively when he was younger, later in his life he was known primarily for illustrating books and periodicals. He exhibited primarily in New York at the National Academy of Design, and at the spring exhibition in 1878. Beard was a prolific illustrator, and some of his works were included in the 1887 book The Sportsmans Paradise, published by J. B. Lippincott, and the 1888 book Little People: and their Homes in Meadows, Woods, and Waters, published by Charles Scribners & Sons, both of which he illustrated alongside his brother, Daniel.  He also worked alongside his fellow New York artists in designing and illustrating Easter, Christmas and New Years cards for the noted chromolithographic printing firm of Louis Prang and Company. Beards fifty-three illustrations for the book Tin-Types Taken in the Streets of New York, published posthumously in 1891, were noted as _‹being in full sympathy with the spirit of the text.Ó  Beard also served as one of the judges for the art department of the Queens County Fair in 1887. Offered here is an original ink drawing used as one of his illustrations for the book Tin-Types Taken in the Streets of New York, published posthumously in 1891. Approx. size 14 x 11 in. Not signed. VG

VG