Study of Four Hands (c.1810)

Born on 18 December 1788, Johann Heinrich Beck was a noted 19th century German painter. He studied with Ferdinand Hartmann at the Dresden Academy and in 1818 at a young age became court painter in Dessau to the Princes of Anhalt-Dessau. His serving works are rare – most notably his lovely portrait entitled Psyche (1814) but was considered one of the leading anatomical painters of his time in Europe. He died on 6 March 1875.