The Art Gallery at the Athenaeum contains one of America’s unique collections of 19th century American paintings. Each week we will feature a different work on this page. We hope educators will use this link as a tool to enrich their art curriculum. Vermonters and other citizens throughout the nation can now visit our gallery in this new, intimate, and informative way.
The text describing each painting was written by Mark D. Mitchell, Assistant Curator of Nineteenth-Century Art at the National Academy Museum. The digital images were prepared by Robert Jenks of Jenks Studio of Photography in St. Johnsbury, VT.
Please note that the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum prohibits the use of images from its collection in public exhibition, broadcast, electronic reproduction or publication in any form without prior written permission from the institution. If you would like to reproduce any of the Art Gallery images in any form, contact Irwin Gelber at 748-8291, extension 307.
William Holbrook Beard (1824-1900), American
Why, Puppy Looks Like Grandpa!, 1874
OIL ON CANVAS, 12 x 10 inches
Gift of Horace Fairbanks
William Holbrook Beard is noted for his light humor, particularly in his depictions of animals run amok. This affectionate portrayal of a young boy remarking upon his dog's wrinkled resemblance to his grandfather is typical of Beard's work. Unusual, however, is the painting's reliance upon its title for the viewer to interpret the subject. Beard's sense of humor and dependence upon his title to convey meaning reflect the strong influence of the art of caricature on his work.