Carol H. Beck Gold Medal (defunct) was a prestigious art prize awarded for the best oil portrait by an American artist submitted to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts's annual exhibition. It was named for PAFA alumna and painter/writer/critic Carol H. Beck (1859–1908), whose brother James M. Beck founded the award in her memory. The portrait had to have been painted within the prior three years, and an artist could be awarded the medal only once.
Recipient history and status
The first Beck Gold Medal was awarded in 1909. Recipients included John Singer Sargent, Robert Henri, George Bellows, John Sloan and Thomas Hart Benton. The last was awarded in 1968. Beginning in 1969, the annual exhibitions were dedicated exclusively to student work from PAFA's school.
Recipients Year Artist Image Work Collection Notes1909John Singer SargentMiss Mathilde TownsendMathilde Townsend, from National Gallery of Art.National Gallery of Art,Washington, D.C.First Beck Gold Medal awarded1910Adolphe BorieLady with Black ScarfLady with Black Scarf1911Edmund TarbellTimothy Dwight, D.D., LL.D.Rev. Timothy Dwight, from Yale University Art Gallery.Yale University Art Gallery1912Joseph de CampFrancis I. Amory, Esq.Francis I. Amory1913J. Alden WeirThe Black HatBrooklyn Museum1914Robert HenriHerselfHerself, from Art Institute of Chicago.Art Institute of Chicago1915Charles HopkinsonH. H. (The Artist's Daughter Harriot)H. H., from SIRIS.Rhode Island School of Design MuseumExterior, snow scene. Half-length. Harriot Hopkinson, about age 111916Douglas VolkDr. Felix AdlerDr. Felix Adler, from Metropolitan Museum of Art.Metropolitan Museum of Art1917Joseph Thurman Pearson Jr.The Twins: Virginia and JaneThe Twins, from James A. Michener Art Museum.James A. Michener Art Museum,Doylestown, PennsylvaniaThe artist's daughters1918Leopold SeyffertFritz KreislerFritz Kreisler, from National Portrait Gallery. National Portrait Gallery,Washington, D.C.1919Leslie P. ThompsonPortrait of a Girl1920Eugene SpeicherPortrait of a Russian Woman1921George BellowsEleanor, Jean and AnnaEleanor, Jean and Anna, from Albright-Knox Art Gallery.Albright-Knox Art Gallery,Buffalo, New YorkThe artist's aunt, daughter andmother1922Ellen Emmet Rand The Honorable Donald T. WarnerPrivate collectionFirst woman to be awarded aBeck Gold Medal1923Lilian Westcott HaleMiss Margaret WilliamsMiss Margaret Williams, from SIRIS.1924Sidney E. DickinsonEdward DickinsonAllen Memorial Art Museum,Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio1925William JamesAlice Howe Gibbens JamesAlice Howe Gibbens James, from SIRIS.Private collection1926Alice Kent StoddardMiss S.1927William C. JohansenElihu Root1928William PaxtonMrs. Francis R. Strawbridge1929Richard LaheyMadame Du Tarte1930Leon KrollJoieJoie, from SIRIS.The artist's adopted daughter.1931John SloanVarèse, the SculptorNational Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.1932SaulChild with Instrument1933William GlackensGirl in Black and WhiteGirl in Black and WhiteWhitney Museum of American Art1934Raphael SoyerGittelGittel1935John W. BeauchampDuck HunterAt 29, the youngest artist to beawarded a Beck Gold Medal1936Jean MacLaneRev. G. A. Studdert-Kennedy1937Frank von der LanckenMy Mother1938Arnold BlanchPortrait of a ManPortrait of a Man, from LiveAuctioneers.1939Leon KarpMy Wife1940George GroszSelf-PortraitEdwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas1941Franklin C. WatkinsMisses Maude and Maxine Meyer de Schauensee1942No medal awarded1943Thomas Hart BentonAaronAaron, from PAFA.Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts1944Louis BoucheLes Fleurs sauvages (Wildflowers)Barefoot man with bouquet1945Sigmund MenkesTola1946Benton Murdoch SpruanceMabel's Daughter1947Sueo SerisawaPierrot1948Alexander BrookYoung PianistYoung Pianist1949Philip EvergoodHer WorldHer World, from Metropolitan Museum of Art.Metropolitan Museum of Art1950Henry MattsonSelf-Portrait1951Henry Varnum PoorThe Artist in Summer (Self-Portrait)1952Gladys Rockmore DavisStudy of an Old Woman (Rosa Jacobs)1953Elsie ManvilleThe Yellow Hat1954John KingKathryn1955Student exhibition1956No medal awarded1957Student exhibition1958Robert BrackmanPeter FreuchenPeter Freuchen, from The Explorers Club.The Explorers Club,New York City1959Student exhibition1960No medal awarded1961Student exhibition1962Balcomb GreeneMan in the CityMan in the City, from Christie's NY.ex coll. Vassar College1963Student exhibition1964Paul GeorgesWife and Children1965Student exhibition1966Ben BennPortrait of Velida (The Artist's Wife)Portrait of Velida, from Mutual Art. Auctioned at Shannon's, Milford, Connecticut,October 23, 2003; sold for $1,500., from Blouin Art Sales Index.1967Student exhibition1968Richard DiebenkornLarge WomanLarge Woman, from Richard Diebenkorn Foundation.Last Beck Gold Medal awarded
See also Temple Gold Medal Mary Smith Prize Widener Gold Medal
References