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John Frederick Peto and Peto family papers, 1850-1983

Creator:
Peto, John Frederick, 1854-1907  Search this
Subject:
Frankenstein, Alfred Victor  Search this
Harnett, William Michael  Search this
Smiley, Helen Peto  Search this
Type:
Photographs
Citation:
John Frederick Peto and Peto family papers, 1850-1983. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Trompe l'oeil painting  Search this
Painters -- New Jersey  Search this
Theme:
Lives of artists  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)11165
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)249574
AAA_collcode_petojohn
Theme:
Lives of artists
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_249574
Online Media:

Oral history interview with Alfred Victor Frankenstein, 1965 Nov. 9

Interviewee:
Frankenstein, Alfred Victor, 1906-1981  Search this
Interviewer:
McChesney, Mary Fuller  Search this
Subject:
Bufano, Beniamino  Search this
Index of American Design  Search this
Federal Art Project (Calif.)  Search this
New Deal and the Arts Oral History Project  Search this
Type:
Sound recordings
Interviews
Citation:
Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Alfred Victor Frankenstein, 1965 Nov. 9. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Art and state  Search this
Coit Memorial Tower (San Francisco, Calif.)  Search this
Federal aid to the arts  Search this
Mural painting and decoration  Search this
Theme:
New Deal  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)12564
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)213455
AAA_collcode_franke65
Theme:
New Deal
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_213455
Online Media:

Alfred Victor Frankenstein papers, 1875-1985

Creator:
Frankenstein, Alfred Victor, 1906-1981  Search this
Subject:
Peto, John Frederick  Search this
Haberle, John  Search this
Copley, John Singleton  Search this
Murdock, Roland P.  Search this
Decker, Joseph  Search this
Harnett, William Michael  Search this
Ives, Charles  Search this
Mount, William Sidney  Search this
Macdonald-Wright, Stanton  Search this
Jenkins, Paul  Search this
National Gallery of Art (U.S.)  Search this
American Arts Alliance  Search this
California Palace of the Legion of Honor  Search this
San Francisco Chronicle (Firm)  Search this
Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.)  Search this
Type:
Interviews
Photographs
Sound recordings
Sketches
Scrapbooks
Citation:
Alfred Victor Frankenstein papers, 1875-1985. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Art, American  Search this
Art -- Collectors and collecting  Search this
Art criticism -- United States  Search this
Theme:
Research and writing about art  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)10066
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)212928
AAA_collcode_franalfr
Theme:
Research and writing about art
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_212928
Online Media:

Oral history interview with Alfred Victor Frankenstein, 1978-1979

Interviewee:
Frankenstein, Alfred Victor, 1906-1981  Search this
Interviewer:
Karlstrom, Paul J  Search this
Type:
Sound recordings
Interviews
Citation:
Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Alfred Victor Frankenstein, 1978-1979. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Art, American  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)11736
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)212681
AAA_collcode_franke78
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_212681

'UC Painter and 'Piracy' from the San Francisco Chronicle

Creator:
Frankenstein, Alfred Victor, 1906-1981  Search this
Type:
Printed Materials
Date:
1963 Aug. 30
Citation:
Alfred Victor Frankenstein. 'UC Painter and 'Piracy' from the San Francisco Chronicle, 1963 Aug. 30. Erle Loran papers, 1912-1999. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Record number:
(DSI-AAA)7178
See more items in:
Erle Loran papers, 1912-1999
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_item_7178

Alfred Victor Frankenstein, San Francisco, Calif. letter to Lawrence Arthur Fleischman, Detroit, Mich.

Creator:
Frankenstein, Alfred Victor, 1906-1981  Search this
Fleischman, Lawrence Arthur, 1925-1997  Search this
Subject:
Harnett, William Michael  Search this
Type:
Correspondence
Date:
1960 Apr. 18
Citation:
Alfred Victor Frankenstein. Alfred Victor Frankenstein, San Francisco, Calif. letter to Lawrence Arthur Fleischman, Detroit, Mich., 1960 Apr. 18. Lawrence and Barbara Fleischman papers, 1837-1984. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Record number:
(DSI-AAA)8935
See more items in:
Lawrence and Barbara Fleischman papers, 1837-1984, bulk 1935-1979
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_item_8935

John Frederick Peto and Peto family papers

Creator:
Peto, John Frederick, 1854-1907  Search this
Names:
Frankenstein, Alfred Victor, 1906-  Search this
Harnett, William Michael, 1848-1892  Search this
Smiley, Helen Peto  Search this
Extent:
2.1 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Date:
1850-1983
Summary:
The papers of still life artist John Frederick Peto and his family date from circa 1850 to 1983 and measure 2.1 linear feet. Within the papers are scattered biographical materials, a few letters to and from Peto, and his daughter Helen Peto Smiley's correspondence with galleries, scholars, and others concerning Peto's artwork. Also found are news clippings, exhibition catalogs, and other printed material, photographs and glass plate negatives of Peto, his family, and his artwork, and one small oil sketch fragment. Much of the collection documents the mid-twentieth century renewed interest in Peto's artwork.
Scope and Content Note:
The papers of still life artist John Frederick Peto and his family date from circa 1850 to 1983 and measure 2.1 linear feet. Within the papers are scattered biographical materials, including his marriage certificate, a memorial poem written by Samuel Callan, Helen Peto Smiley's notes about her father's artwork, and other brief writings about Peto and trompe-l'oeil painting. Correspondence includes a few letters to and from Peto, his daughter Helen Peto Smiley's correspondence with galleries, scholars, such as art critic Alfred Frankenstein, and others concerning Peto's artwork, and miscellaneous correspondence. Printed material consists of news clippings about Peto, his family, and fellow artist William Harnett, exhibition catalogs, reproductions of artwork, and other items. Photographs and glass plate negatives depict Peto in his studio, with family, and with Harnett, as well as his family, his home and studio in Island Heights, New Jersey, and his artwork. Also found is one small fragment of an oil sketch, unsigned and undated.

Much of the collection, including Helen Peto's notes and correspondence, the printed material, and photographs of artwork document the mid-twentieth century renewed interest in Peto's artwork.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into 5 series:

Missing Title

Series 1: Biographical Material, circa 1870s-1983 (Box 1, OV 5; 9 folders)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1862-1983 (Box 1; 4 folders)

Series 3: Printed Material, 1880-1983 (Box 1, OV 5; 11 folders)

Series 4: Photographs, circa 1850-1980 (Box 2-7, OV 5; 1.3 linear feet)

Series 5: Artwork, circa late 1800s (Box 4; 1 folder)
Biographical Note:
John Frederick Peto (1854-1907) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Thomas Hope Peto and Catherine Peto. He was raised by his mother's family, the Hamms, and lived with them until his marriage. Little is known about his early life; he was listed as a painter in the Philadelphia City Directory in 1876 and was enrolled in the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1878. During this time he also became friends with fellow artist William Harnett and was greatly influenced by Harnett's trompe l'oeil still life paintings. During the 1880s Peto maintained a studio and exhibited several works at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts annual exhibition. Like Harnett, he painted trompe l'oeil still life paintings, most notably, rack-looking structures or shelves that depicted a variety of items, many of them autobiographical. Peto also lived briefly in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he met Christine Pearl Smith, and they were married in 1889. He received very little recognition for his paintings in Philadelphia, and in 1889 he and his wife moved to Island Heights, New Jersey so that he could make money playing the cornet at religious revivals held there. In 1893 they had a daughter Helen. Though he lost interest in the professional art world and fell into obscurity, Peto continued painting and sold many works to the local drug store and business people, until his death in 1907.

Recognition of Peto's contribution to the trompe l'oeil genre didn't occur until over forty years after his death. During research on the paintings of William Harnett, art critic Alfred Frankenstein discovered that numerous paintings thought to be painted by Harnett had forged signatures and were actually painted by Peto. Frankenstein published an article in the Art Bulletin in 1949 about his discoveries that renewed interest in the work of Peto and the trompe l'oeil genre.
Provenance:
The collection was donated in 2004 by Gregory Bejarano, John Frederick Peto's great-grandson.
Restrictions:
The collection has been digitized and is available online via AAA's website. Glass plate negatives are housed separately and not served to researchers.
Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Topic:
Trompe l'oeil painting  Search this
Painters -- New Jersey  Search this
Genre/Form:
Photographs
Citation:
John Frederick Peto and Peto family papers, circa 1850-1983. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
AAA.petojohn
See more items in:
John Frederick Peto and Peto family papers
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw97bbb9e7b-c393-466c-99de-3c6a34915402
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-petojohn
Online Media:

Still Life with Universal Gazetteer, (painting)

Title:
Still Life with Illegible Letter, (painting)
Painter:
Harnett, William Michael 1848-1892  Search this
Medium:
Oil on canvas
Type:
Paintings
Date:
1878
Topic:
Still Life--Trompe L'Oeil  Search this
Still Life--Written Matter--Letter  Search this
Still Life--Other--Writing Tool  Search this
Still Life--Other--Money  Search this
Still Life--Written Matter--Newspaper  Search this
Control number:
IAP 6151A516
Data Source:
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_ari_102433

Handbill of the Play at the Night of Lincoln's Assassination, (painting)

Painter:
Brooks, Nicholas Alden active 1880-1904  Search this
Medium:
Oil on oak panel
Type:
Paintings
Owner/Location:
Oberlin College Allen Memorial Art Museum Oberlin Ohio 44074 Accession Number: 04.593
Date:
1888
Topic:
Still Life--Trompe L'Oeil  Search this
Control number:
IAP 42190011
Data Source:
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_ari_53282

Still Life with Clarinet, (painting)

Painter:
Harnett, William Michael 1848-1892  Search this
Medium:
Oil
Type:
Paintings
Date:
1883
Topic:
Still Life--Musical Instrument--Clarinet  Search this
Still Life--Written Matter--Sheet Music  Search this
Still Life--Written Matter--Book  Search this
Control number:
IAP 8F360016
Data Source:
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_ari_467706

With the "Staats Zeitung," (painting)

Painter:
Harnett, William Michael 1848-1892  Search this
Medium:
Oil on canvas
Type:
Paintings
Owner/Location:
St. Louis Art Museum Forest Park St. Louis Missouri 63110 Accession Number: 26:1945
Date:
1890
Topic:
Still Life--Trompe L'Oeil  Search this
Still Life--Other--Smoking Material  Search this
Still Life--Written Matter--Newspaper  Search this
Control number:
IAP 28110105
Data Source:
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_ari_274314

Slice of Watermelon, a Cantaloupe, & a Pear, (painting)

Painter:
Harnett, William Michael 1848-1892  Search this
Medium:
Oil
Type:
Paintings
Date:
Sept. 9, 1874
Topic:
Still Life--Fruit--Pear  Search this
Still Life--Fruit--Cantaloupe  Search this
Still Life--Fruit--Watermelon  Search this
Control number:
IAP 84130008
Data Source:
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_ari_222211

Herald, (painting)

Painter:
Harnett, William Michael 1848-1892  Search this
Medium:
Oil
Type:
Paintings
Owner/Location:
Kennedy Galleries New York New York
Topic:
Still Life--Written Matter--Newspaper  Search this
Control number:
IAP 84130029
Data Source:
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_ari_222232

Times, (painting)

Painter:
Harnett, William Michael 1848-1892  Search this
Medium:
Oil
Type:
Paintings
Topic:
Still Life  Search this
Control number:
IAP 84130034
Data Source:
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_ari_222236

Lobster & Figaro No. II, (painting)

Painter:
Harnett, William Michael 1848-1892  Search this
Medium:
Oil
Type:
Paintings
Topic:
Still Life--Written Matter--Newspaper  Search this
Control number:
IAP 84130059
Data Source:
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_ari_222260

Plucked Clean, (painting)

Painter:
Harnett, William Michael 1848-1892  Search this
Medium:
Oil
Type:
Paintings
Topic:
Still Life--Game  Search this
Control number:
IAP 84130060
Data Source:
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_ari_222261

Books, (painting)

Painter:
Peto, John Frederick 1854-1907  Search this
Type:
Paintings
Date:
After 1890
Topic:
Still Life--Trompe L'Oeil  Search this
Still Life--Written Matter--Book  Search this
Control number:
IAP 84130081
Data Source:
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_ari_222280

Conglomeration, (painting)

Painter:
Haberle, John 1856-1933  Search this
Type:
Paintings
Owner/Location:
Unlocated
Date:
1889
Topic:
Still Life--Trompe L'Oeil  Search this
Control number:
IAP 84130089
Data Source:
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_ari_222288

Quail, (painting)

Painter:
Platt, George W. 1839-99  Search this
Type:
Paintings
Topic:
Still Life--Game  Search this
Still Life--Trompe L'Oeil  Search this
Control number:
IAP 84130100
Data Source:
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_ari_222299

An Exact Weight, (painting)

Title:
Laboratory of Thomas Price, (painting)
Painter:
Alexander, Henry 1860-1894  Search this
Subject:
Unidentified  Search this
Medium:
Oil on canvas
Type:
Paintings
Owner/Location:
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco M. H. de Young Memorial Museum Golden Gate Park San Francisco California 94118 Accession Number: 1980.44.1
Date:
Ca. 1886
Topic:
Architecture interior--Science--Laboratory  Search this
Portrait male--Waist length  Search this
Occupation--Science--Scientist  Search this
Control number:
IAP 71069922
Data Source:
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_ari_146409

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