John Frederick Peto
American
John Frederick Peto often relished ambiguity, which was made more puzzling by the conventions of trompe l'oeil (or “fool the eye”) painting, a specialized form of still life popular in America at the end of the 19th century. Works in this style are designed to be elaborate visual deceptions that viewers will mistake for actual three-dimensional tableaux.
Born
1854
Died
1907
How do you reduce, reuse, and recycle?
This painting presents a pile of books hastily arranged in a cabinet. The unrelated volumes demonstrate the booksellers’ practice of gathering random unsold titles and offering the entire group (the “job lot”) at a discounted price. Peto’s close-up view provides a telling and realistic record of the cast-offs of commerce at the turn of the century.
Medium
Oil on canvas
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd
Item ID
1979.7.81
Dimensions
29 5/8 x 39 3/4 in. (75.2 x 101 cm)
Date
1892
Country
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Artist name
John Frederick Peto
Artwork location