Attributed to John F. Peto, no coa, private collection, medium: oil, measurements: 26"wx33"h framed, ok/good condition, nicks and scratches Biography: John Frederick Peto was an American trompe-l'œil painter who was long forgotten until his paintings were rediscovered along with those of fellow trompe-l'œil artist William Harnett. The subject matter of Peto's paintings consisted of the most ordinary of things: pistols, horseshoes, bits of paper, keys, books, and the like. He frequently painted old time "letter racks", which were a kind of board that used ribbons tacked into a square that held notes, letters, pencils, and photographs. Many of Peto's paintings reinterpret themes Harnett had painted earlier,but Peto's compositions are less formal and his objects are typically rustier, more worn, less expensive looking.