Arthur E. Becher

American illustrator

Arthur E. Becher
Becher in his studio painting in 1957
Born	Arthur Ernst Becher (1877-07-29)July 29, 1877 Freiburg, German Empire
Died	November 4, 1960(1960-11-04) (aged 83) Poughkeepsie, New York, US
Nationality	American
Known for	Illustration
Signature

Arthur Ernst Becher (July 29, 1877 – November 4, 1960) was an American artist and illustrator. Becher's career spanned 40 years, during which he illustrated for many of the leading magazines of the day including Collier's Weekly, McCall's, Ladies' Home Journal, Scribner's Magazine and Pictorial Review. He was a member of the Society of Illustrators and the Salmagundi Club.

Background

Arthur Becher was born on July 29, 1877 in Freiberg, Germany, and emigrated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his three brothers and parents at the age of four.^[1] He joined Milwaukee Art Student's League and sketched at Jones Island with Louis Mayer and other artists. In 1899, he moved with William Aylward to Wilmington, Delaware. For a couple of years starting in 1902 he studied under illustrator Howard Pyle.^[2]

Becher practiced photography during this period, and in 1902 he participated in the first exhibition of the Photo-Secession, a group of pictorialist photographers selected by Alfred Stieglitz. In 1904, he married Freida L. Knappe and moved to Ardsley, New York.^[2]^[3]^[4] Freida was frequently a model for his book and magazine illustrations.

In 1908, Appleton's Magazine sent Becher to London where he sketched the Elgin Marbles at the British Museum. While in Europe he took the opportunity to study oil painting with the German artist Otto Leopold Strutzel.^[2]

Becher's career spanned 40 years, during which he illustrated for many of the leading magazines of the day including Collier's Weekly, McCall's, Ladies' Home Journal, Scribner's Magazine and Pictorial Review. He used drawing media such as carbon or charcoal pencil for many of his illustrations but also worked in large scale oil painting. He sometimes painted landscapes. Many of his works had allegorical themes.^[3]^[4] He was also a member of the Society of Illustrators and the Salmagundi Club.^[5]

In 1959, the common council of Milwaukee purchased some of Becher's work depicting Jones Island for $1,800.^[6]

Becher died on November 4, 1960, in Poughkeepsie, New York.^[7]

Auction records

New York, December 2, 1982: Landscapes (two oils on canvas, 16 by 20 inches [40.6 cm × 50.8 cm]) $750.00 (equivalent to US$2,368 in 2023)
New York, April 4, 1984: Train Carriage Fording a Stream (oil on card, 18+1⁄4 by 22 inches [46.4 cm × 55.9 cm]) $950.00 (equivalent to US$2,786 in 2023)
New York, March 15, 1986: War and Peace (1935, oil on canvas, 38+1⁄4 by 32 inches [97.2 cm × 81.3 cm]) $1,700.00 (equivalent to US$4,725 in 2023)
New York, November 14, 1991: Baby's First Christmas (oil on canvas, 33+3⁄4 by 24 inches [85.7 cm × 61.0 cm]) $8,250.00 (equivalent to US$18,455 in 2023)
New York, November 28, 1995: Procession with Carriage (1948, oil on canvas, 30 by 40+1⁄4 inches [76.2 cm × 102.2 cm]) $2,300 (equivalent to US$4,599 in 2023)

Source^[8]

Gallery

Collier's Weekly cover, March 21, 1903.
"You were happy!" said the king. "You were disobedient. You were causing grave anxiety and you were happy! The first duty of a prince is to his country." (1916) 15 3/8 x 22 3/8 inches. Collection of the Delaware Art Museum
St. Nicholas (serial) (1873)
Nikky's resistance to search, with the revolver so close, was short-lived (1917); 24 5/8 by 17 5/8 inches Collection of the Delaware Art Museum
Nikky, you are going to take me away, aren't you? (1917) 20 x 13 1/4 inches. Collection of the Delaware Art Museum
Jerry Abershaw, chased by the King' dragons

Notes

^ Foley, Dan (July 20, 1957). "Ardsley Artist, 80, Hits Crazes". The Reporter Dispatch. White Plains, New York. p. 2.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Arthur Ernst Becher (1877 - 1960)". Museum of Wisconsin Art. 2016. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016.
^ ^a ^b Kohan, John (2015). "Arthur Ernst Becher". Sacred Art Pilgrim Collection: Artists. Sacred Art Pilgrim.
^ ^a ^b Reed, Walt; Reed, Roger; Society of Illustrators (1984). The Illustrator in America, 1880-1980: A Century of Illustration. New York: Society of Illustrators. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-942604-03-0.
^ "Obituary Notices: Arthur E. Becher". The Reporter Dispatch. White Plains, New York. November 5, 1960. p. 2.
^ Stover, Frances (November 22, 1959), Jones Island It Was, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: The Milwaukee Journal
^ "Arthur E. Becher". The New York Times. November 5, 1960. p. 23. ProQuest 115128026.
^ "Becher, Arthur E.". Benezit Dictionary of Artists. Oxford University Press. October 31, 2011. doi:10.1093/benz/9780199773787.article.B00014748.