The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts

The medal's obverse bears nude male figure seated on a bench, r., contemplating a canvas held in one hand, brush or pen in the other. Around, PENNSYLVANIA AC-ADEMY OF THE FINE ARTS; at right, FOUNDED / 1805; signed in exergue, H. LYMAN SAYEN

The reverse bears two bound laurel branches flanking inscription, THE / JENNIE SESNAN / PRIZE / IN . MEMORIAM / SARAH / CAZENOVE / ROBERTS / FOUNDED 1902

The Jennie Sesnan Prize was founded in 1902 by Elizabeth W. Roberts, who herself had been a student of the Academy and had won its Mary Smith Prize in 1880.  It was awarded for the best landscape painting at the Academy's annual exhibition and came with a generous moentary award of $100. Ms. Roberts commemorated both her late mother, Sarah Cazenove Roberts, and a model named Jennie Sesnan with whom Ms. Roberts had worked and whom she held in high regard.

The circular medal measures 44.4mm and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

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.