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The Cup We All Race 4

John F. Petoca. 1900

de Young museum

de Young museum
San Francisco, CA, United States

"The Cup We All Race 4" is painted in the hyper-realistic style known as trompe l’oeil, which translates from the French as “fool the eye.” Zoom in closer on the wooden panel. Can you tell which parts of the panel are painted and which are real wood?

John Frederick Peto often depicted everyday objects in his paintings. This decision hindered the artist’s career during his lifetime, as many collectors preferred elevated subject matter that symbolized their wealth and social status. However, today Peto’s mixed-media works are appreciated for their humble subject matter and moralizing themes concerning materialism, success, and ambition. For example, in "The Cup We All Race 4", an aged, dented tin cup is mounted almost like a trophy—possibly an allusion to the elusive prizes man chases in the race of life.

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  • Title: The Cup We All Race 4
  • Creator: John Frederick Peto
  • Creator Lifespan: 1854 - 1907
  • Creator Nationality: American
  • Creator Gender: male
  • Creator Death Place: New York, New York
  • Creator Birth Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Date: ca. 1900
  • Physical Dimensions: w21 1/2 x h25 1/2 inches
  • Type: Painting
  • media: oil on canvas and wood
  • audio rights: © Antenna International
  • Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd
de Young museum

Additional Items

The Cup We All Race 4 (Supplemental)

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