Prolific artist (1825–1900) known for his humorous anthropomorphic paintings of animals. ALS signed “W. H. Beard,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 5 x 8, January 28, 1862. Letter to a gallery regarding the price of his work. In part: “I cannot take any less than $300 for my picture, ‘Bears on a Bender.’ I intended $350 should be the very lowest I would offer it for, but would rather throw off the fifty than to lose the sale of the picture. There would be no object in my taking any less than that, as it is one of the most successful pictures I have ever painted—perhaps the most successful. And I think it would be of more use to me as an exhibition picture, than a less amount of money…if whatshisname wants it enough to give $300 for it including the frame let him have it, otherwise don’t sell it. I will also throw off $50 from the price of ‘Grimalkin’s Dream’ but there being already quite a reduction in the price of the ‘Kittens’—without my knowledge—I will let it go at that now, but no less…if any friends of mine want cheap pictures and good ones I give them my word, they will find nothing in the exhibition so well—so more than—worth the amount asked for them than the two little pictures of Whittredge’s at the prices I see.” Intersecting folds, one passing through a single letter of the signature, and some light toning, soiling, and show-through from writing on opposing sides, otherwise fine condition. RR Auction COA.
