Carnegie Mellon University - Andrew Carnegie Online Archives

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  • Subject = Beatty, John W. (John Wesley), 1851-1924--Correspondence
  • Original Format = Correspondence
  • Subject = Art commissions

About This Collection

This collection contains primary resources about Carnegie's bequests along with supporting explanatory text, that teachers will be able to use as part of their curriculum.
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(John W. Beatty to Col. S.H. Church, May 22, 1911)
(John W. Beatty to Col. S.H. Church, May 22, 1911)
Church, Samuel Harden--Correspondence, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Portraits, Philanthropists--United States--Portraits, Zorn, Anders, 1860-1920, Painters--Sweden, Portraits, Art commissions, Beatty, John W. (John Wesley), 1851-1924--Correspondence
Western Union telegram from John W. Beatty to Samuel H. Church presumably concerning an interview with Mr. Andrew Carnegie about a portrait Anders Zorn painted of Carnegie. In the telegram Beatty informs Church that the interview was ""satisfactory"" and he is writing to Beatty with more details.
(John W. Beatty to Samuel H. Church, June 2, 1911)
(John W. Beatty to Samuel H. Church, June 2, 1911)
Church, Samuel Harden--Correspondence, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Portraits, Philanthropists--United States--Portraits, Zorn, Anders, 1860-1920, Painters--Sweden, Portraits, Art commissions, Beatty, John W. (John Wesley), 1851-1924--Correspondence
A handwritten letter from John W. Beatty to Samuel Harden Church concerning Beatty's visit to New York to examine a portrait of Andrew Carnegie painted by Anders Zorn. Mr. Beatty still considers the portrait ""a broadly painted and forceful picture, manifestly done in haste but lacking in the completeness of detail"". Mr. Carnegie told Beatty he had done four sitting for Zorn and that the portrait was finished. He also said that Zorn sailed the morning after the last sitting. Beatty believes that the portrait is better than the portrait they now have of Carnegie. The letter ends with Beatty stating the difficulty in ""securing a painting of him"" if he has to give long sittings. On Richard Lane stationary.
(John W. Beatty to Samuel H. Church, May 22, 1911)
(John W. Beatty to Samuel H. Church, May 22, 1911)
Church, Samuel Harden--Correspondence, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Portraits, Philanthropists--United States--Portraits, Zorn, Anders, 1860-1920, Painters--Sweden, Portraits, Art commissions, Garber, J. A., Ranger, Henry Ward, 1858-1916, Beatty, John W. (John Wesley), 1851-1924--Correspondence
A handwritten letter from John W. Beatty to Col. Samuel H. Church concerning a portrait Anders Zorn painted of Andrew Carnegie. Beatty thinks the portrait ""is by far and away the best painting I have seen of Mr. Carnegie"". He does write that ""there may be some shortcomings"". Beatty writes if Church wants to make arrangements to send for the canvas he should ask ""my Mr. Garber to arrange the details. Beatty states that the picture should be insured and Beatty should ask Mr. Garber to take care of this. Beatty states that he is staying with H.W. Ranger (presumably Henry Ward Ranger) in Noauk, Connecticut. He asks Church to not let anyone photograph or publish the picture. Beatty asks Church to keep the painting boxed for now to ""protect for Copyright"". On Parker House, Boston stationary.
(John W. Beatty to Samuel H. Church, May 29, 1911)
(John W. Beatty to Samuel H. Church, May 29, 1911)
Church, Samuel Harden--Correspondence, W. S. Budworth and Son, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Portraits, Philanthropists--United States--Portraits, Zorn, Anders, 1860-1920, Painters--Sweden, Portraits, Art commissions, Cleveland, Grover, 1837-1908, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930, Ranger, Henry Ward, 1858-1916, Beatty, John W. (John Wesley), 1851-1924--Correspondence
A handwritten letter from John W. Beatty to Samuel Harden Church in reference to a letter from Church that he received the day before. In the letter Beatty writes that he has contacted their New York agents, Budworth and Son, to wait until Beatty arrives before sending for and shipping a portrait painted of Andrew Carnegie by Anders Zorn. Beatty states that his examination of the painting was ""extremely hurried"". Mr. Beatty surmises from Church's original message that Carnegie's sittings for the portrait were stopped and that the portrait was unfinished. Mr. Carnegie has stated that the portrait was finished and Zorn sailed the morning after it was completed. Beatty told Carnegie that the painting impresses him and that Zorn was a renowned painter who has painted portraits of Grover Cleveland and current President Taft. Carnegie then told Beatty to ""tell Church it is not as bad as it might have been"". Beatty writes that he may ""take some good artist friend with me"" when he goes to New York to study the portrait. He then writes that he will write Church about it. He concludes the letter by stating that he is currently visiting Ranger (presumably Henry Ward Ranger) and ""enjoying and undisturbed rest"". On H.W. Ranger, Noank, Conn. stationary.
(John W. Beatty to S.H. Church, May 19, 1911)
(John W. Beatty to S.H. Church, May 19, 1911)
Church, Samuel Harden--Correspondence, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Portraits, Philanthropists--United States--Portraits, Zorn, Anders, 1860-1920, Painters--Sweden, Portraits, Art commissions, Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, Hotels--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia, Beatty, John W. (John Wesley), 1851-1924--Correspondence
Postal Telegraph Cable Company telegram from John W. Beatty to Samuel H. Church presumably in response to a note (telegram) dated May 19, 1911 from Samuel H. Church. The telegram states that Beatty will see Andrew Carnegie and will ""do best he can"", presumably in regards to judging a portrait painted by Anders Zorn of Andrew Carnegie. He suggests that Church telegraph, presumably Andrew Carnegie and ask him to let Zorn finish the portrait of him. The telegram ends by stating Zorn (presumably) is at the Bellevue-Stratford that night.
(Samuel H. Church to John W. Beatty, May 26, 1911)
(Samuel H. Church to John W. Beatty, May 26, 1911)
Beatty, John W. (John Wesley), 1851-1924--Correspondence, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Portraits, Philanthropists--United States--Portraits, Zorn, Anders, 1860-1920, Painters--Sweden, Portraits, Art commissions, Garber, J. A., Pittsburgh (Pa.), Church, Samuel Harden--Correspondence
A typescript letter from Samuel H. Church to John W. Beatty in reference to a letter from Beatty written on May 22, 1911. In the letter of May 22, 1911, Beatty thinks the portrait ""is by far and away the best painting I have seen of Mr. Carnegie"". He also writes that ""there may be some shortcomings"". In the letter of May 22, 1911, Beatty writes if Church wants to make arrangements to send for the canvas he should ask ""my Mr. Garber to arrange the details. Church writes that after reading Beatty's letter of May 22, 1911, he concludes that the portrait of Carnegie is not a ""hideous caricature and total failure which Mr. Carnegie esteems it to be"". Church advises not to take ownership of the painting and is concerned about spending $7,000 for the painting if it is a ""bad portrait"". Church does not want to do anything about the painting situation at present until Church and Beatty meet on the subject or unless ""Zorn does something in the meantime"". A P.S. follows with a retyping of a letter from Anders Zorn dated May 15, 1911 in which Zorn states he has done his best with Carnegie's portrait. Church ends the P.S. with stating that it looks like they are ""stuck"" with the portrait and he will make arrangements with Mr. Garber to bring the portrait here (Pittsburgh).