Near as real as what's there - selected paintings by John Frederick Peto

 

Student's Materials, circa 1890-1900.

Old Models, 1892. (A false signature by Peto's more famous contemporary William Harnett has been added at bottom left.)

The Arnold Inkwell.

Oranges, Wrapped.

The Poor Man's Store, 1885.

Books and Inkwell.

Straw Hat, Bag, and Umbrella, 1890-early 1900s.

The Cup We All Race 4, circa 1900.

Still Life with Books and Inkwell, 1899.

Old Time Card Rack, 1900.

Hommage Au Chardin / Wine and Brass Stewing Kettle - Preparation for a French Potage.

Books, Mug, Pipe, and Violin, circa 1880.

Pipe and Mug.

Fish House Door, 1905.

English Breakfast.

Still life with Mug, Pipe, and Book, 1889.

For the Track, 1895.

Reminiscences of 1865, circa 1901.

Still Life with Green Candlestick and Book, circa 1890.

Door with Lanterns, late 1880s.

Cucumber, circa 1890s.

Market Basket, Hat, and Umbrella, after 1890.

Forgotten Friends / Candlestick and Books on Table.

Book Leaning Against Mug with Pipe, 1889.

Old Violin, 1890.

Candlestick, Pipe, and Tobacco Box, circa 1890.

*

John Frederick Peto (21 May 1854, Philadelphia – 23 November 1907, Island Heights, New Jersey), American trompe-l'œil painter, long forgotten until his paintings were rediscovered along with those of his contemporary and fellow trompe-l'œil artist, the successful and influential William Harnett. (Many of Peto's paintings have actually had the false signature of Harnett added in an attempt to make them more valuable.) He studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts at the same time as Harnett. Until he was in his mid-thirties, he submitted paintings regularly to the annual exhibitions at the Philadelphia Academy. In 1889, he moved to the resort town of Island Heights, New Jersey, where he worked in obscurity for the rest of his life. He and his wife took in seasonal boarders, he found work playing cornet at the town's camp revival meetings, and he supplemented his income by selling his paintings to tourists; his work was never professionally exhibited during his lifetime. The John F. Peto Studio Museum, opened in 2011, preserves the artist's house and studio in Island Heights. Built in 1889, the house was mostly designed by the artist and remained in his family for over 100 years.