Collections: American Art: Stone Bridge over the Wissahickon

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Stone Bridge over the Wissahickon

Like many early watercolorists in America, George Beck was born and trained in England as a topographical draftsman. He continued creating landscape pictures after immigrating to the United States in 1795. In this richly painted watercolor of a prospect in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, Beck combined the documentary imperatives of his training with a Picturesque approach to nature.


• Artist: George Willie Beck, American, born England, 1748-1812
• Medium: Opaque watercolor on paper mounted to canvas attached to Masonite and a wooden strainer
• Dates: ca. 1800
• Dimensions: 16 1/2 x 22 in. (41.9 x 55.9 cm) Primary support: 19 3/8 x 24 1/8 in. (49.2 x 61.3 cm) Secondary support (including strainer): 21 1/2 x 27 1/2 in. (54.6 x 69.9 cm) Frame: 25 1/4 x 31 1/8 x 2 1/4 in. (64.1 x 79.1 x 5.7 cm)
• Collections: American Art
• Museum Location: This item is not on view
• Accession Number: 1991.10.1
• Credit Line: Purchased with funds given by Mr. and Mrs. Leonard L. Milberg
• Image: Overall, 1991.10.1_cropped_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
George Willie Beck (American, born England, 1748-1812). Stone Bridge over the Wissahickon, ca. 1800. Opaque watercolor on paper mounted to canvas attached to Masonite and a wooden strainer, 16 1/2 x 22 in. (41.9 x 55.9 cm) Primary support: 19 3/8 x 24 1/8 in. (49.2 x 61.3 cm) Secondary support (including strainer): 21 1/2 x 27 1/2 in. (54.6 x 69.9 cm) Frame: 25 1/4 x 31 1/8 x 2 1/4 in. (64.1 x 79.1 x 5.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased with funds given by Mr. and Mrs. Leonard L. Milberg, 1991.10.1 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1991.10.1_cropped_SL1.jpg)