07/16/2026 Jewelry, General, Books & Autographs, American Art
Doyle is honored to auction a selection of artwork and jewelry from the collection of artist and illustrator Beatrice Dabney Adams, together with presidential memorabilia from the collection of her husband, Charles Francis Adams IV, in a series of upcoming sales.
Beatrice “Bee” Dabney (1932–2022) was raised in Dover, Massachusetts, an affluent community outside Boston with deep roots in New England history. The third daughter of Beatrice Howell Dabney and Frederick Lewis Dabney, Bee grew up under the care of a German nanny and the influence of her grandmother, Gwendolen Whistler Parker, a grand-niece of the artist James McNeill Whistler.
Following her parents' divorce, Bee's mother and her daughters moved into a smaller house on her grandmother's estate, where daily life unfolded amid a remarkable menagerie of animals, including horses, rabbits, a donkey, a dog, and a goose named Pompous Ass. These creatures became an important part of Bee's imaginative world and inspired many of her earliest drawings. Her mother, a creative and independent woman, encouraged her daughters' curiosity and exposed them to art, music, dance, and theater, nurturing the creative instincts that would shape Bee's life.
Above: A selection of sketches by Beatrice Dabney Adams. Rare Books, Autographs & Maps. Auction Aug 13.
At the Charles River School and later Beaver Country Day School, her artistic talent quickly became apparent as she filled one sketchbook after another and even accepted commissions from family friends while still a student. Determined to pursue a career as an artist, Bee studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, before continuing her education in Paris at the École des Beaux-Arts and the Académie Julian.
Bee met George Plimpton at a New Year's Eve party while he was a student at Harvard and president of the Harvard Lampoon. The two quickly formed a close relationship that continued into her years in Paris, where George became one of the founders of The Paris Review. Bee contributed illustrations to the magazine in its early years, including pen-and-ink portraits for its celebrated literary interviews.
Through George, Bee met his Harvard classmate Prince Sadruddin "Sadri" Aga Khan, who became a close friend and, for a time, a romantic suitor, squiring her on a tour of the French Riviera and even scuba diving with Jacques Cousteau.
While in Paris, Bee also sought out other artists to refine her craft. She showed her drawings to author and illustrator William Pène du Bois, who introduced her to his father, the painter Guy Pène du Bois. Bee subsequently studied privately with Guy in his studio overlooking the Luxembourg Gardens. Teacher and student painted one another's portraits—Guy Pène du Bois's portrait of Bee will be auctioned with American Paintings this Fall.
Above (l-r): Noël Coward, Jamaican Scene. | Guy Pène du Bois, Portrait of Beatrice Dabney Adams. American Paintings. Auction Fall 2026 | Gloria Vanderbilt, Pink Houses. James McNeill Whistler, Etching. Auction Fall 2026.
A visit to the offices of the French edition of Elle to present her sketches unexpectedly turned into an invitation for a modeling session. Bee soon found herself on the cover of the magazine's July 1954 issue. After returning to New York, she met fashion illustrator René Bouché, who invited her to model for him regularly. Their professional relationship evolved into an artistic mentorship, with Bouché generously sharing studio time and offering guidance and encouragement.
While preparing for her first solo exhibition, Bee invited Truman Capote to visit her studio. Years later, she recalled their conversation: “He told me about a book he had written called Breakfast at Tiffany's that was to be made into a film, and I had been one of the models for the leading character, Holly Golightly.” The story reflects the remarkable creative circles in which Bee moved during that era.
Her exhibition at the Country Art Gallery in Westbury and two exhibitions at New York's Sagittarius Gallery introduced her work to a growing audience and led to additional commissions. At a dinner hosted by Kitty Carlisle, Bee was seated beside Noël Coward, who later visited her studio. The two agreed to exchange paintings, and Coward's depiction of a Jamaican scene will be auctioned on August 13.
In 1965, Bee received a call from her friend Diana Vreeland, who invited her to appear in a Vogue feature highlighting New York's trendsetting young women. The assignment was photographed by the emerging Italian photographer Gianni Penati. The two soon fell in love and were married in an intimate ceremony hosted by Bee's close friend Bunny Mellon. Four years later, they welcomed a son, Giannotto. Although the marriage ended in divorce, Bee and Gianni remained on warm terms.
Above (l-r): John Quincy Adams - His Connection with the Monroe Doctrine, inscribed by Charles Francis Adams Jr. | Nine Volumes of Poetry Signed by John Quincy Adams. | The Letters of Mrs. Adams, 1848. | Auction Rare Books, Autographs & Maps | Auction August 13.
Bee’s second husband was her lifelong friend and former Dover neighbor Charles Francis Adams IV. Long before their marriage, Bee had painted an auk for the Adams family, a work commissioned to hang aboard their sailing yacht named after the arctic seabird. Charles was a descendant of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams, and his father was a former Secretary of the Navy. Charles went on to serve as president and later chairman of Raytheon Company, a pioneering electronics and communications firm. A collection of presidential material descended in the Adams family will be auctioned on August 13.
Following Charles' death in 1999, Bee devoted her later years to her family, delighting in her role as a grandmother, and reconnecting with lifelong friends, including Gloria Vanderbilt, whose painting of pink houses will be offered on August 13. She also became deeply involved with the Charles F. and Beatrice D. Adams Charitable Trust, supporting children's behavioral health, arts therapy for at-risk youth—including a creative space named Studio Bee in her honor—and environmental conservation in Maine. Bee died in 2022 at the age of ninety. Her fascinating story is that of an artist who moved through an extraordinary cultural world with curiosity, generosity and an enduring commitment to her craft.
Above (l-r): Tiffany & Co., Elsa Peretti Gold 'Bean' Torque Necklace. | Tiffany & Co., Schlumberger Platinum, Gold, Ruby, Sapphire and Diamond 'Fifteen Stone X' Band Ring. | Tiffany & Co., Schlumberger Gold, Diamond and Ruby 'Sixteen Stone' Band Ring. | Fine Jewelry. Auction July 23. View Lots.
Fine Jewelry | Auction Thursday, July 23 at Noon | Sale Info | View Lots
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps | Timed Auction Thursday, August 13 at 10am | Sale Info
American Paintings | Auction Fall 2026
Fine Art | Auction Fall 2026