Howard John Besnia Sold at Auction Prices

b. 1921 - d. 2014

Howard was born on January 24, 1921, in Worcester, the son of Howard H. and Mary (Ciborowski) Besnia. He was an Army veteran of World War II serving with Headquarters 2502nd Service Command Unit in Maryland. While in the service, he met Shirley, the love of his life, and they were married in 1945. Following his service to his country, Howard returned to school earning a Bachelor's Degree from Clark University and a Master of Fine Arts Degree from Yale University.

Howard's lifelong passion was art. Among his many talents, he was a caricaturist, portrait painter, sculptor, photographer, graphic artist and bookmaker. He designed and published five fine art books in 6 years, one of which was an award winner at the New England Book Show. He even sketched the stars from his own observatory.

He taught art for over 60 years, beginning at Auburn High School and ending with decades of service at Fitchburg State College. Upon his retirement, he continued to teach classes from his home studio up to the final year of his life. -

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      • Howard John Besnia (1921-2014) "First Church of Sterling"
        Jun. 15, 2024

        Howard John Besnia (1921-2014) "First Church of Sterling"

        Est: $600 - $900

        Howard John Besnia (1921-2014) Original Lino Cut Print, Titled "First Church of Sterling", Edition number 1 Print number 20, signed lower right in plate and in pencil, labeled on verso and dedicated, piece measures 16 x 12 and 26.5 x 21 inches w/frame. This framed print is the one that the artist exhibited in 1952 when it was new, and continued to exhibit in subsequent shows of his prints. Artist was born on January 24, 1921, in Worcester, the son of Howard H. and Mary (Ciborowski) Besnia. He was an Army veteran of World War II serving with Headquarters 2502nd Service Command Unit in Maryland. While in the service, he met Shirley, the love of his life, and they were married in 1945. In 1950, Howard John Besnia built his dream home and studio on top of a hill in Sterling, Massachusetts. He designed it to reflect his interests. It had an astronomical observatory, a darkroom, an oil painting studio with a twenty-foot ceiling; a watercolor studio; a classroom, and a printmaking studio filled with massive historical presses. He dubbed it Skycrest Studio, and a few years later changed the name to Scarab Press. Scarab Press produced a prodigious number of fine prints by "Doctor" Besnia and other artists, along with a number of meticulously created artist-made books. It became a regional center for fine printmaking, and a nationally recognized private press for small-edition books. Over the years, Scarab Press became a repository for hundreds of examples of editions produced by regional artists. Some of them were students making their first editions. Others were seasoned artists who used the facility to produce masterpieces. Mr. Besnia also collected historical prints and contemporary fine prints by his friends and favorite artists. He continued painting until a few months before his death at age 93, adding to the thousands of artworks created during his long career. The style of his works encompassed W.P.A. style mural projects, portraiture, wildlife studies, surrealism, depictions of the cosmos, and stylized landscapes. Howard John Besnia received a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree from Yale University, and was a tenured faculty member of Fitchburg State College in Massachusetts.

        Cutler Bay Auctions
      • HOWARD JOHN BESNIA (AMERICAN, 20TH C.)
        Jun. 14, 2024

        HOWARD JOHN BESNIA (AMERICAN, 20TH C.)

        Est: $100 - $200

        Howard John Besnia American, 20th c. Watercolor Signed and dated '73. Colorful scene of boats at a pier, framed.

        Selkirk Auctioneers & Appraisers
      • Howard John Besnia Beetlepeople Art Book
        Nov. 06, 2023

        Howard John Besnia Beetlepeople Art Book

        Est: $200 - $300

        United States,20th Century Titled "The Beetlepeople of Scarabank" by Howard John Besnia with original wood engravings published by The Scarab Press, Sterling Junction, Massachusetts 1964, edition of one hundred. One full book and one partial book with prints titled "Megalo Ceras Glyptos," "My Love," "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not," "The Embrace," "Marriage," "Birth," "The Family Tree," "The Thorny Road," "Dance of Conception," "Birth Ultimate," and "Enarxis."

        Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers
      • HOWARD JOHN BESNIA (Massachusetts, 1921-2014), “Lithographs by Howard John Besnia”., Color woodcut, sheet 17.75” x 6”. Framed 20” x 8.5”.
        Apr. 19, 2023

        HOWARD JOHN BESNIA (Massachusetts, 1921-2014), “Lithographs by Howard John Besnia”., Color woodcut, sheet 17.75” x 6”. Framed 20” x 8.5”.

        Est: $80 - $125

        HOWARD JOHN BESNIA Massachusetts, 1921-2014 "Lithographs by Howard John Besnia". Signed "HJB" and numbered 24/49 in pencil lower margin. Advertisement for the artist's show at Tatnuck Art Gallery, Worcester, Massachusetts.

        Eldred's
      • HOWARD JOHN BESNIA (Massachusetts, 1921-2014), "Lobster Harvest (Goose Rocks, Maine) 1958"., Watercolor on paper, 22" x 28. Framed 25" x 31".
        Jan. 26, 2023

        HOWARD JOHN BESNIA (Massachusetts, 1921-2014), "Lobster Harvest (Goose Rocks, Maine) 1958"., Watercolor on paper, 22" x 28. Framed 25" x 31".

        Est: $200 - $300

        HOWARD JOHN BESNIA Massachusetts, 1921-2014 "Lobster Harvest (Goose Rocks, Maine) 1958". Signed lower left "Howard John Besnia". Titled verso.

        Eldred's
      • Howard John Besnia Landscape Watercolor Painting
        Nov. 15, 2021

        Howard John Besnia Landscape Watercolor Painting

        Est: $100 - $200

        United States,1921-2014 Impressionist depiction of a farm house situated in a vast field surrounded by forest and distant mountains.

        Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers
      • Howard John Besnia Naturalist Hartebeest Painting
        Oct. 05, 2019

        Howard John Besnia Naturalist Hartebeest Painting

        Est: $200 - $300

        New England,1921-2014 Depicts a hartebeest in the foreground bathed in light gazing off into the distance while a herd grazes in the background. Besnia received a MFA from Yale University and later founded Scarab Press in Sterling, Massachusetts.

        Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers
      • Howard John Besnia Abstracted Face Painting
        Sep. 14, 2019

        Howard John Besnia Abstracted Face Painting

        Est: $100 - $200

        United States,1921-2014 Grotesque sinew-like black lines tangle together to form a stern expression contrasting a light airy background.

        Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers
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