Artwork
For the Track
For the Track is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist John F. Peto. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left: J.F. Peto / 95; center reverse: FOR THE TRACK / J.F. Peto 95 / ISLAND HeIGHTS / N.J
About this work
Technique & Style
For the Track is executed in oil paint on a canvas support, a medium typical of John Frederick Peto’s still‑life paintings. The work is classified as a painting in the still‑life genre, with dimensions of approximately 110.5 cm in height and 75.9 cm in width. No specific details about the artist’s handling, the painting’s condition, or its formal/stylistic qualities are provided in the sources.
History & Provenance
The National Gallery of Art lists the work in its collection, though specific accession numbers or exhibition records are not detailed in the provided sources.
John Frederick Peto's 1895 painting For the Track is held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., following its transfer from private ownership. The work entered the museum's collection through a partial and promised gift from Jo Ann and Julian Ganz, Jr., in 1997, with the gift completed in 2008. Prior to this acquisition, the painting was sold at Christie, Manson & Woods in New York on June 1, 1984, after passing through three generations of a single family since the 1930s.
The National Gallery of Art lists the work in its collection, though specific accession numbers or exhibition records are not detailed in the provided sources.
Legacy
The painting entered the National Gallery of Art in 2008 after being sold at Christie's New York in June 1984 (sale no. 32) and changing hands among private collectors since the 1930s. Its subsequent acquisition and display at the museum have positioned it as a noted example of John Frederick Peto's oeuvre within the institution's American still‑life holdings. The work's documented provenance and inclusion in a major public collection underscore its recognized significance in the study of late‑19th‑century American art.
Overview
John Frederick Peto's 1895 oil on canvas painting, "For the Track," presents a detailed still life composition. The work depicts an array of everyday items meticulously arranged and affixed to a dark green wooden door. This painting exemplifies Peto's characteristic focus on common objects, transforming them into subjects for careful observation and artistic rendering within a confined space.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features a collection of seemingly discarded items, including a red cap, a wooden stick, and various torn papers, notably a clipping mentioning "Six Great Races." A horseshoe and a metal plate with a keyhole further contribute to the arrangement. These elements collectively evoke a connection to horse racing, while their weathered appearance suggests a sense of nostalgia and the passage of time, as if the door and its contents have long been left undisturbed.
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Artist & collection
Artist
John Frederick Peto (May 21, 1854 – November 23, 1907) was an American trompe-l'œil ("fool the eye") painter who was long forgotten until his paintings were rediscovered along with those of fellow trompe-l'œil artist William Harnett.
