I am continuing my research on some artists mentioned in Thomas G. Moses’ memoirs during 1922.
Moses recalled working with Frank Peyraud. He writes:
“As I look backward over the names of the successful ones, I wonder what I would have done had I been gifted with the same amount of talent.
So it goes on, year after year, and you keep just a little bit ahead of the game, just enough to convince your friends that you are really a good fellow and that you haven’t abused their confidence.
But you are bound to look backwards and wish for the “Land of Beginning Again”
I wish that there were some wonderful place,
Called the “Land of Beginning Again”
Where all our mistakes and our heartaches
And all of our poor, selfish grief,
Could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door
And never put on again.
(Louisa Fletcher Tarkington)
Today I did a little research on Frank Peynaud (1858-1948)
François “Frank” Charles Peynaud was born in Bulle, Switzerland and received some early artistic training at the l’Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris. He immigrated to the United States in 1881 and settled in Chicago. There, he would remain for the majority of his life. He initially worked in an architectural firm as a draftsman. He was let go and it is unknown whether this was due to his work or his lack of English. After his dismissal, however, started working as a scenic artist and fine artist. Very little is known of his early years in Chicago, but by 1891, Peyraud touched up Paul Philippoteaux’s panoramic painting that depicted the Battle of Gettysburg.
Side note on this panoramic artwork:
The Battle of Gettysburg originally appeared in 1883 and exhibited in Chicago. Four versions were created, two of which are among the last surviving cycloramas in the United States.
1.)The first version for the cyclorama as noted above disappeared for years and was “discovered” in 1965, only to be purchased by a group of North Carolina investors.
2.) The second painting, originally exhibited in the cyclorama building in Boston. It is now on display at the Gettysburg National Military Park. For further information on this artwork, here is the link to that site: https://www.nps.gov/gett/learn/historyculture/gettysburg-cyclorama.htm I was fortunate enough to see this cyclorama with Larry Hill when I was in town evaluating the Atlanta Scottish Rite scenery collection.
3.) The third version of the cyclorama was exhibited in Philadelphia and subsequently destroyed by fire.
4.) The fourth version was exhibited in Brooklyn and remains lost.
But back to my tale on Peyraud….
Along with A. J. Rupert, Harry Vincent, Moses, Peyraud and a number of others artists painted William Hawoth’s “Flag of Truce” in 1892. By the way, the original script is still available at the University of Chicago in the Charles Morton Agency Collection of American Popular Drama 1842-1950, Box 35, folder 2.
Peyraud worked with Moses for certain in 1892 and 1893. By 1896, he is painting allegorical murals with Hardesty G. Maratta (1864-1924) in Peoria, Illinois – for the public library and city hall. The one for the library “View from Prospect Heights” and measured 20’ x 11’ (it is now in the Lakeview museum). The one for city hall was titled Peoria, August 29, 1831. Peyraud stayed in Peoria for three years, offering art lessons for young aspiring artists until his wife passes away in 1899. He remains single until 1906 when he finds love again with fellow artist Elizabeth Krysher, a portrait painter and an illustrator. The couple settle in Ravinia, Illinois (a section of Highland Park) by 1919.
Peyraud was a notable Impressionist landscape artist. His paintings were exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago, the National Academy of Design (NY), the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (Philadelphia), the Corcoran Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.), the Pan-Pacific Exposition (San Francisco) and many other exhiits too numerous to mention. His paintings are in a varity of collections worldwide, including the Art Institute and Union League Club of Chicago, the Municipal Collection of Phoenix and the Art Museum of Bulle, Switzerland.
More information about Peynaurd is available at http://www.illinoisart.org/frank-charles-peyraud
Mural for Peoria City Hall
Mural for Peoria Public Library (now in Lakeview Museum)
Another work in Peoria at the Library
Other artworks of Peyarud.
