Ernest Peixotto
Encyclopedia
Ernest Clifford Peixotto (1869–1940) was an American
artist, illustrator, and author. Although he was known mainly for his mural
s and his travel literature
, his artwork also regularly appeared in Scribner's Magazine
. His 1916 work Our Hispanic Southwest is famous for including the first written appearance of the ethnic slur "spic
" (although, in fact, it had previously appeared with a different spelling and pronunciation).
to a Sephardic Jewish family. He studied art at the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art with Emil Carlsen
, who encouraged him to go to Paris
. Taking his advice, Peixotto went to France in 1888 and studied at the Académie Julian
under the tutelage of Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant, Henri Lucien Doucet
and Jules Joseph Lefebvre
. While in France, he visited the colony of the American Impressionists
and befriended Theodore Robinson
. He spent a total of six years in France, returning to San Francisco in 1894. The following year, he moved to New York City
, and joined the staff of Scribner's Magazine.
In 1897, he married the painter Mary Glascock Hutchinson, and two years later the couple returned to France on a sketching trip for Scribner's and ended up staying for six years based in Fontainebleau
, outside Paris. During this period, Peixotto illustrated Theodore Roosevelt
's Life of Oliver Cromwell (1904). Although he frequently returned to the United States to work, the house in Fontainebleau served as his primary residence for the remainder of his life.
Peixotto's first large commissioned mural was Le Morte d'Arthur
for a private library for railroader Henry A. Everett (not, as widely repeated, at the Cleveland Public Library
) in 1911. Subsequently, the majority of his work was in mural form, most of it for private individuals.
During World War I
, Peixotto served as a captain in the United States Army Corps of Engineers
, director of the Section of Painting, and one of eight official artists attached to the American Expeditionary Force
, whose job was to create a visual record of events. After the war, he remained in France as director of the United States Army
's art-training center, which merged into the École des Beaux-Arts
in 1923. Peixotto remained as the chair of the school's American Committee, while simultaneously serving as the director of the mural department of the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design
in New York, a position he held from 1919 through 1926, when he left to focus on his own work. In June 1921 he was made a Chevalier in the Légion d'honneur
, for war work and the promotion of friendship between France and the United States.
However, he still served on a number of art organizations. He was the president of the National Society of Mural Painters
from 1929–35, and president of School Art League of New York from 1936–40. From 1935–40 he served on the Art Commission of New York City and was director of murals for the 1939 New York World's Fair
.
Peixotto died on December 6, 1940.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
artist, illustrator, and author. Although he was known mainly for his mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
s and his travel literature
Travel literature
Travel literature is travel writing of literary value. Travel literature typically records the experiences of an author touring a place for the pleasure of travel. An individual work is sometimes called a travelogue or itinerary. Travel literature may be cross-cultural or transnational in focus, or...
, his artwork also regularly appeared in Scribner's Magazine
Scribner's Magazine
Scribner's Magazine was an American periodical published by the publishing house of Charles Scribner's Sons from January 1887 to May 1939. Scribner's Magazine was the second magazine out of the "Scribner's" firm, after the publication of Scribner's Monthly...
. His 1916 work Our Hispanic Southwest is famous for including the first written appearance of the ethnic slur "spic
Spic
Spic is an ethnic slur used in the United States for a person of Hispanic background.-Etymology:Some in the United States believe the word is a play on their pronunciation of the English "speak."...
" (although, in fact, it had previously appeared with a different spelling and pronunciation).
Biography
Peixotto was one of five children born in San FranciscoSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
to a Sephardic Jewish family. He studied art at the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art with Emil Carlsen
Emil Carlsen
Soren Emil Carlsen was an American Impressionist painter who emigrated to the United States from Denmark...
, who encouraged him to go to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Taking his advice, Peixotto went to France in 1888 and studied at the Académie Julian
Académie Julian
The Académie Julian was an art school in Paris, France.Rodolphe Julian established the Académie Julian in 1868 at the Passage des Panoramas, as a private studio school for art students. The Académie Julian not only prepared students to the exams at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts, but offered...
under the tutelage of Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant, Henri Lucien Doucet
Henri Lucien Doucet
Henri Lucien Doucet was a French figure and portrait painter, born in Paris, where he studied under Lefebvre and Boulanger, and in 1880 won the Prix de Rome. His pictures are usually piquant, sparkling representations of modern life, eminently Parisian in style, but the audacious realism of his...
and Jules Joseph Lefebvre
Jules Joseph Lefebvre
Jules Joseph Lefebvre was a French figure painter.Lefebvre entered the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in 1852 and was a pupil of Léon Cogniet. He won the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1861. Between 1855 and 1898, he exhibited 72 portraits in the Paris Salon...
. While in France, he visited the colony of the American Impressionists
American Impressionism
Impressionism, a style of painting characterized by loose brushwork and vivid colors, was practiced widely among American artists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.-An emerging artistic style from Paris:...
and befriended Theodore Robinson
Theodore Robinson
Theodore Robinson was an American painter best known for his impressionist landscapes. He was one of the first American artists to take up impressionism in the late 1880s, visiting Giverny and developing a close friendship with Claude Monet...
. He spent a total of six years in France, returning to San Francisco in 1894. The following year, he moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and joined the staff of Scribner's Magazine.
In 1897, he married the painter Mary Glascock Hutchinson, and two years later the couple returned to France on a sketching trip for Scribner's and ended up staying for six years based in Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southeast of the centre of Paris. Fontainebleau is a sub-prefecture of the Seine-et-Marne department, and it is the seat of the arrondissement of Fontainebleau...
, outside Paris. During this period, Peixotto illustrated Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
's Life of Oliver Cromwell (1904). Although he frequently returned to the United States to work, the house in Fontainebleau served as his primary residence for the remainder of his life.
Le Morte d'Arthur
Le Morte d'Arthur is a compilation by Sir Thomas Malory of Romance tales about the legendary King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, and the Knights of the Round Table...
for a private library for railroader Henry A. Everett (not, as widely repeated, at the Cleveland Public Library
Cleveland Public Library
The Cleveland Public Library was founded in 1869 and is located in Cleveland, Ohio. It operates the Main Library on Superior Avenue in downtown Cleveland, 28 branches throughout the city, a mobile library, a Public Administration Library in City Hall, and a library for the blind and physically...
) in 1911. Subsequently, the majority of his work was in mural form, most of it for private individuals.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Peixotto served as a captain in the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
, director of the Section of Painting, and one of eight official artists attached to the American Expeditionary Force
American Expeditionary Force
The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF were the United States Armed Forces sent to Europe in World War I. During the United States campaigns in World War I the AEF fought in France alongside British and French allied forces in the last year of the war, against Imperial German forces...
, whose job was to create a visual record of events. After the war, he remained in France as director of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
's art-training center, which merged into the École des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The most famous is the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, now located on the left bank in Paris, across the Seine from the Louvre, in the 6th arrondissement. The school has a history spanning more than 350 years,...
in 1923. Peixotto remained as the chair of the school's American Committee, while simultaneously serving as the director of the mural department of the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design
Beaux-Arts Institute of Design
The Beaux-Arts Institute of Design was an art and architectural school at 304 East 44th Street in Turtle Bay, Manhattan, in New York City...
in New York, a position he held from 1919 through 1926, when he left to focus on his own work. In June 1921 he was made a Chevalier in the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
, for war work and the promotion of friendship between France and the United States.
However, he still served on a number of art organizations. He was the president of the National Society of Mural Painters
National Society of Mural Painters
The National Society of Mural Painters is an American artists' organization founded in 1895, originally known as The Mural Painters. The charter of the society is to advance the techniques and standards for the design and execution of mural art for the enrichment of architecture in the United...
from 1929–35, and president of School Art League of New York from 1936–40. From 1935–40 he served on the Art Commission of New York City and was director of murals for the 1939 New York World's Fair
1939 New York World's Fair
The 1939–40 New York World's Fair, which covered the of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park , was the second largest American world's fair of all time, exceeded only by St. Louis's Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Many countries around the world participated in it, and over 44 million people...
.
Peixotto died on December 6, 1940.
External links
- Guide to the Ernest Clifford Peixotto Papers at The Bancroft Library