The John Frederick Peto House and Studio possesses historical and architectural significance of great value to the Borough of Island Heights. It is a monument to the life and work of renowned still-life painter John Frederick Peto, often called the American Rembrandt. Peto designed the house and studio; at the start of this project they still contained some of his furniture and the artifacts depicted in his paintings. Although previously identified as being designed in the Queen Anne style, the architecture is more characteristic of the geometric and simpler Shingle Style. Although the house had been altered, it still conveys the feeling of a late nineteenth century rustic Victorian house. It is unique as an example of an artist’s home and studio, as designed by the artist, and is evocative of his art and his personality. The property is also one of only a handful of historic house museums that celebrate the life of a famous American artist. It has remained in, and been cared for, by the Peto Family for 115 years.
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HISTORIC ARTISTS’ HOMES & STUDIOS
The John F. Peto Studio Museum is a unique cultural destination in New Jersey. In 2016, it became the first and only artist’s house and studio museum in the Garden State recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) for its cultural and historical importance. The Museum is now a part of the NTHP’s national Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios (HAHS) network, an elite coalition of 35 museums located in the homes of American artists including Jackson Pollock, Andrew Wyeth, Donald Judd, Georgia O’Keefe, and Winslow Homer.
