John W. Beatty, 1851-1924
Nationality: American
Date of Birth: 1851
Place of Birth: Pittsburgh, PA
Place of Death: Clifton Springs, NY
Identity:
John Wesley Beatty was a painter and etcher, of Scottish parentage.
Life:
John Wesley Beatty began his training at the Royal Bavarian Academy, Munich. He soon developed an interest in painting scenes from nature, often including horses within a landscape. Beatty is represented in several galleries, including Plymouth Hills at the National Gallery, Washington DC. Harvest Scene was bought by Frick and is in the collection at the Frick Art and Historical Center, Pittsburgh.
Rather than painting, however, Beatty invested more time in his role as first director of the Department of Fine Arts at the Carnegie Institute. Furthermore, he later became an advisory committee member for the Chicago Exposition, St Louis Exposition, and the San Francisco Exposition.
As an active member of the Paris advisory committee, JW assisted Beatty on matters regarding the organization of exhibitions held by the Carnegie Institute of Pittsburgh.
Bibliography:
Bénézit, E., Dictionnaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs, 8 vols, Paris, 1956-61; Falk, Peter H. (ed.), Who was who in American art: biographies of American artists active from 1898-1947, Madison, 1985; Fielding, Mantle, Dictionary of American Painters, Sculptors and Engravers, (2nd ed.), New York, 1986; http://www.gillilandfineart.com (accessed 2003); Collecting in the Gilded Age. Art Patronage in Pittsburgh, 1890-1910, Frick Art and Historical Center, 1997 (cat. no. 44, repr. p. 189).