The Endless Watch, USS Idaho, Arthur Beaumont, 1978, watercolor on paper. Photograph by Ryan Gobuty
Arthur Beaumont (1890-1978) remains one of America’s most celebrated painters of the U.S. Navy: his paintbrush capturing its dramatic, oceanic endeavors for over five decades. Best known for his watercolors of hulking ships and harbor scenes, his virtuoso treatment of his subjects has even seen his work grace the White House halls of power.
Jonathan Club is home to an impressive selection of Beaumont’s work. Currently on display in the Beaumont Room are 16 of his paintings, while the Huntington Room features nine drawings that were gifted to us by the artist’s son, Geoffrey Beaumont. We further augmented our collection this year when we made four wonderful new acquisitions. The first three - Sea Trials, USS Halsey; Where the Fleet Goes - We Have Been; Kontiki - were all generously donated to the Club by member Gregg Brandow. The fourth piece, the stoic yet serene The Endless Watch, USS Idaho, was purchased by the Club, where it currently resides in the Beaumont Room.
Sea Trials, USS Halsey, Arthur Beaumont, 1964, watercolor on paper. Photograph by Ryan Gobuty
Esteemed works of art are often loaned between private individuals, museums, and corporate collections, and the Jonathan Club is likewise invested in this mutually beneficial type of exchange. The Club remains keen to disseminate its Beaumonts far and wide. Chinese Waters (1948), gifted to the club by Stephanie and Nina Spray, has just returned after a four year sojourn around the U.S. as part of the travelling exhibition Arthur Beaumont: Art of the Sea. Meanwhile, Bikini Atoll Atomic Test (1946) - of significant historical value considering Beaumont was the only artist to witness and document the nuclear explosion - is on long term loan to the National Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas.
Many positive gains can result from private collectors sharing their collections with public institutions. It can broaden the reach, study, and scholarly appreciation of valuable artworks to audiences that might not otherwise be able to access them. It provides additional exposure through museum exhibits nationwide or globally that can enhance the work’s renown and increase its monetary value. Plus, it’s an excellent way to reduce the costs associated with conserving and storing each work.
Although most of the Beaumonts in our possession are owned by the Jonathan Club or the Art Foundation, the Club is the grateful beneficiary of many a loan too. Laurie McLennan has bestowed us with the stunning The Kista Dan - Marguerite Bay, 1960, in addition to USS Glacier and Burton Island, 1960. Porter Hahn has kindly granted us the use of In the Canal, USS Ranger, 1933, while on loan from Carol Henry is the The Atlantic Battle, 1943-1945 USS Bogue, made in 1969.
Arthur Beaumont painted almost every Navy ship commissioned. He vividly depicted the beauty and grandeur of those sturdy ships, captured in repose or engaged in war: his bold use of color and detailed textures conveying an incredible gravity. It is our privilege to own such a fine selection of work by the artist: a man who was awarded one of the maritime services’ highest civilian honors - the Meritorious Public Service medal - for his tireless efforts supporting and memorializing the U.S. Navy.
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