The medal's obverse bears kneeling, shrouded female figure laying down wreath at artist's brushes and palette; columns in background. Around, MEMORIAL · TO · CAROL · H · BECK · / · MDCCCCIX · ; signed at bottom right, JJ Boyle
The medal's reverse bears artist's palette and brshes with wreaths at bottom. Across, · THE PENNSYLVANIA · / · ACADEMY · OF · THE · FINE · ARTS · / · ANNUAL · EXHIBITION · / · AWARDED · TO ·
Carol H. Beck (1859-1908) was a student the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Schools from 1879 to 1884, where she studied under Thomas Eakins. She studied in Dresden, and at the Académie Julian in Paris. She returned to PAFA in 1899, where she did additional study under William Merritt Chase. In the same year shw won the Mary Smith Prize for best painting by a Philadelphia woman artist.
Her brother sponsored the "Beck Gold Medal" in her memory. It was awarded for the best painting by an American Artist exhibited at the PAFA annual exhibition. Recipients included John Singer Sargent, Robert Henri, George Bellows, John Sloan and Thomas Hart Benton.
The circular medal measures 50.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and gold by the Philadelphia Mint. No mintage is reported.