Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 45 works by William Holbrook Beard in our catalogue
In short
Santa Claus (1862) is the William Holbrook Beard painting that draws the most eyes. After it, the eye goes to Owls (1851) and The Fox Hunter's Dream (1859). Among the 45 works of William Holbrook Beard in our catalog, these 45 are the most famous, each a unique original presented with its year, its museum and the reason it endures.
The night air holds a quiet magic in Santa Claus, a work by the American painter William Holbrook Beard. Created about 1862, this scene captures a moment of mid-flight wonder. The subject matter centers on Santa Claus himself, navigating his sleigh through a hazy, winter sky. He is accompanied by a team of reindeer, their forms moving through the atmosphere above a sleeping winter cityscape.
Created in 1851, Owls by William Holbrook Beard presents a group of five owls situated within a forest environment. This oil on canvas work focuses on the birds in their natural habitat, surrounded by trees and scattered leaves. The composition includes one owl on the left side of the frame, two in the center, and two on the right. A small bird is also perched on a branch toward the…
Created in 1859, this work reflects a period fascinated by the intersection of nature and human activity. The scene captures a specific type of outdoor pursuit that was deeply embedded in the social fabric of the era. Through the use of oil on canvas, the artist employs glazing techniques to build up layers of color, allowing light to filter through the scene and create an atmospheric depth. The shadows and…
A central figure commands the composition, gesturing with a sense of absolute dominion over a gathering of lions. This man, positioned amidst the predators, appears to exert a spiritual or sovereign control that transcends the physical threat of the beasts. The presence of two angels, flanking the scene on the left and right, shifts the narrative from a mere encounter in the wild to a profound allegory of divine or…
The oil painting titled Santa Claus was created by the American artist William Holbrook Beard in 1862. This work captures a singular moment of folklore suspended in the night. The subject matter centers on the figure of Santa Claus as he navigates a sleigh through a hazy, winter sky. He moves through the darkness accompanied by a team of reindeer, their forms cutting through the atmosphere.
A small, furry face peeks from the shadows of a dark, arched opening, its eyes wide with a quiet, inquisitive light. This little creature, perhaps a bear cub or a fox, rests a single paw upon a pale, yellowish-cream ledge, creating a moment of sudden, intimate connection. The darkness within the aperture feels deep and textured, a rich reddish-brown that pushes the subject forward into the soft, diffused light. There…
An anthropomorphic monkey sits in a seated, contemplative pose within this 1886 oil painting. The figure is dressed in a jester's costume, featuring saturated red and bright yellow fabric that contrasts against a muted background. The monkey's fur is rendered with fine brushwork, showing a velvety texture. To the left, a heavy stone pedestal or balcony base provides a solid architectural element, while the right side of the frame opens…
In "The Poker Game" by William Holbrook Beard, we find ourselves drawn into a highly theatrical and fantastical scene. The composition is centered upon a table where a group of monkeys is engaged in a game of cards. This central activity is framed by several figures positioned around the periphery, observing the proceedings from the shadows. The arrangement creates a sense of intimacy, pulling the viewer into the immediate circle…
In this landscape oil painting, And The Sky Was Full of Forms by William Holbrook Beard, we find ourselves before a scene of profound isolation. Created about 1893, the work presents a dramatic, atmospheric landscape set within a rocky, desolate terrain. The environment feels heavy and vast, dominated by a rugged landscape that stretches toward a distant, hazy horizon. It is a quiet, somewhat lonely setting that invites a closer…
In this 1886 oil on canvas, we find ourselves drawn into a quiet, wooded clearing where the boundaries between the animal kingdom and human social ritual begin to blur. Three bears occupy the center of the composition, their presence suggesting a narrative of courtship and curiosity. One bear stands to the left, another occupies the central space, and a third is positioned to the right, creating a triangular tension that…
In the Forest1856 · Brooklyn Museum
12
Domestic Squabble1857
13
The Trapper1857
14
Squirrel and Mice (also known as Making Acquaintance)1859
15
The March of Selenus1862 · Buffalo AKG Art Museum
16
The Bear Dance1870 · New York Historical Society
17
Susannah and the Elders1865
18
The Wreckers1874 · Museum of Fine Arts
19
The Witches Convention1876
20
Pre-Adamite1874
21
The Fallen Landmark1872
22
The Runaway Match1877 · Smithsonian American Art Museum
23
His Majesty Receives1885 · Indianapolis Museum of Art
24
Deer on the Prairie1884 · Buffalo Bill Center of The West
25
Making Game of the Hunter1880
26
The Tables Turned1881
27
The Lost Balloon1882 · Smithsonian American Art Museum
28
Little Accident1882
29
Phantom Crane1891
30
The Gossips1890
31
Discovery of Adam1891 · Toledo Museum of Art
32
How Beautiful1891
33
Round and Round they Went1892
34
The Disputed Way1889
35
School Rules1887 · Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
36
Scientists at Work1894
37
The Four Seasons: Winter
38
Divorce
39
The Power of DeathHarvard Art Museums
40
The Bulls and Bears in the Market1879 · New York Historical Society
41
The Four Seasons: Spring
42
Squirrels (also known as The White Squirrel)
43
Self Portrait in the StudioNew York Historical Society
44
A View in Virginia
45
Forest Interior
The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.
The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by William Holbrook Beard | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art |
Providence | 3 | Santa Claus, Teddy's Christmas Greeting, And The Sky Was Full of Forms |
 New York Historical Society |
New York City | 3 | The Bear Dance, The Bulls and Bears in the Market, Self Portrait in the Studio |
 Brooklyn Museum |
Brooklyn | 2 | For What Was I Created?, In the Forest |
 Smithsonian American Art Museum |
Washington, D.C. | 2 | The Runaway Match, The Lost Balloon |
 Buffalo AKG Art Museum |
Buffalo | 1 | The March of Selenus |
 Museum of Fine Arts |
Boston | 1 | The Wreckers |
 Indianapolis Museum of Art |
Indianapolis | 1 | His Majesty Receives |
 Buffalo Bill Center of The West |
Laramie | 1 | Deer on the Prairie |
Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.
Created in 1851, Owls by William Holbrook Beard presents a group of five owls situated within a forest environment. This oil on canvas work focuses on the birds in their natural habitat, surrounded by trees and scattered leaves. The composition includes one owl on the left side of the frame, two in the center, and two on the right. A small bird is also perched on a branch toward the…
The night air holds a quiet magic in Santa Claus, a work by the American painter William Holbrook Beard. Created about 1862, this scene captures a moment of mid-flight wonder. The subject matter centers on Santa Claus himself, navigating his sleigh through a hazy, winter sky. He is accompanied by a team of reindeer, their forms moving through the atmosphere above a sleeping winter cityscape.
A central figure commands the composition, gesturing with a sense of absolute dominion over a gathering of lions. This man, positioned amidst the predators, appears to exert a spiritual or sovereign control that transcends the physical threat of the beasts. The presence of two angels, flanking the scene on the left and right, shifts the narrative from a mere encounter in the wild to a profound allegory of divine or…
An anthropomorphic monkey sits in a seated, contemplative pose within this 1886 oil painting. The figure is dressed in a jester's costume, featuring saturated red and bright yellow fabric that contrasts against a muted background. The monkey's fur is rendered with fine brushwork, showing a velvety texture. To the left, a heavy stone pedestal or balcony base provides a solid architectural element, while the right side of the frame opens…
A small, furry face peeks from the shadows of a dark, arched opening, its eyes wide with a quiet, inquisitive light. This little creature, perhaps a bear cub or a fox, rests a single paw upon a pale, yellowish-cream ledge, creating a moment of sudden, intimate connection. The darkness within the aperture feels deep and textured, a rich reddish-brown that pushes the subject forward into the soft, diffused light. There…
Santa Claus (1862). Owls (1851) and The Fox Hunter's Dream (1859) come next.
37 years old: Santa Claus dates from 1862, and William Holbrook Beard was born in 1825.
Santa Claus, Owls, The Fox Hunter's Dream, The Spirit of the Storm, Santa Claus, Teddy's Christmas Greeting, For What Was I Created?, The Poker Game, And The Sky Was Full of Forms and So You Wanna Get Married, Eh.. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.
Our catalog holds 45 works by William Holbrook Beard, dated from 1851 to 1894.
Mostly in Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art (Providence), New York Historical Society (New York City) and Brooklyn Museum (Brooklyn). The museum table above lists them all.
In 1880s: 11 of the 45 works on this page were made then, For What Was I Created? among them.
On this page, the earliest is Owls (1851) and the latest Scientists at Work (1894).
Animal allegory (3), Santa claus (2) and Reindeer (2), across the 45 works on this page.
Oil On Canvas, for 9 of the 45 works on this page.
Santa Claus, Teddy's Christmas Greeting and And The Sky Was Full of Forms: the Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art, Providence holds 3 of the works on this page.
