Beard, William Holbrook ~ Phantom Crane, 1891, oil on canvas

William Holbrook Beard (1824–1900) was an American artistic painter who is known best for his satirical paintings of beasts performing human-like activities. Beard was born in Painesville, Ohio. He studied abroad, is associated with the Düsseldorf school of painting, and during 1861 relocated to New York City, where, in 1862, he became a member of the National Academy of Design. Beard initiated his own artist's studio on Tenth Street in New York City in a building known as the Studio Building.