James Carroll Beckwith was a landscape, portrait and genre painter whose style ranged from academic to impressionist. He is best known for portrait and genre subjects, was skilled in mural painting, and was highly respected as an art educator.

Born in Hannibal, Missouri in 1852, Beckwith, who intensely disliked his first name of James, had childhood education at several New York and Ohio military academies, but at age nine, was withdrawn because of severe inflammatory rheumatism. The remainder of his life was troubled by ill health.

He moved with his parents to Chicago, and, showing art talent, was enrolled at the Chicago Academy of Design. His good friend was Frederick Stuart Church, and they took ins...