Peter Beard: Fifty Years of Portraits, 2 Page Autograph Treatment

Peter Beard: Fifty Years of Portraits by Peter Beard

First Edition, First Printing, 1999

Featuring a Two Page Peter Beard Autograph Treatment

Fine Condition

This is an extremely rare signed first edition, first printing of “Peter Beard: Fifty Years of Portraits by Peter Beard” published by Arena Editions, Santa Fe, in 1999.  The book was published on the occasion of the 1999 exhibition Peter Beard: Fifty Years of Portraits curated by Peter T. Tunney, at the Fahey/Klein Gallery, Los Angeles and is a highly sought-after monograph of Beard's work. The publisher’s comments provide a wonderful insight into the book: "Throughout his remarkable life, photographer, naturalist, and raconteur Peter Beard has befriended and photographed some of the most prominent figures of our times. Portraiture is woven into the fabric of all of Beard's work, yet to date this relationship has never been carved out and explored. From his earliest attempts at expression as a child to the mania for travel and adventure that overtook Beard as a young man, and onward to Beard's most recent work on assignment, portraiture is a central thread of Beard's career. Beard's "portraits," however, rarely conform to the traditional format of this genre. Instead, they embody spontaneity, the moments shared with intimate friends, and the adventurous lives and experiences to which he has long been attracted. A vital chronicler of our times, he has created memorable images of such icons as Picasso, Francis Bacon, Karen Blixen, Andy Warhol, Truman Capote, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Salvador Dali, and Mick Jagger, along with the last great safari hunters, such as J.A. Hunter, Phillip Percival, and Cape-to-Cairo Grogan”.

Profusely illustrated with numerous photographs, photomontages and collages with hand-written texts, photographs, painting and drawings by Peter Beard, the book measures approximately 10.5” x 8.5” and is 206 pages. The book is bound in brown 'leatherette' covered boards with a tipped-in plate on the front cover and debossed title. Both the book and covers are in Fine condition.

What makes this book even more special is the two page autograph treatment by Peter Beard. In addition to his full signature in red to match the title page color, he has added the date 2000 ad and included his footprint and red ink splashes to create a unique personalized signature treatment.

Photographs of the book cover as well as the two page autograph treatment appear at the end of the listing. Although the photographs appear digitized as thumbnails, they are viewable in the photo viewer by running your mouse over the thumbnail. You can also click on the thumbnail to open a separate window where the picture is viewable.