Study of Birds

Object number2007.131.34

Artist Peter A. Contis (died 1973)

Date1962-1973

MediumAcrylic; wood; paper; glass

Credit LineGift of Helen Contis

DescriptionAcrylic painting on canvas. Four sheets of paper mounted on black board, taped together to form large sheet. Top left: two birds, one squirrel, trees in yellow, greens, blue, black. Top right: two upside birds with branches in feet, one larger multi-colored bird (peacock?) in center. Bottom right: three orange parrots with long feathers. Bottom left: two brown birds with green accents among green potted plants, one with yellow and orange flowers.Dimensions30.75 x 2.25 x 24.75 in. (78.1 x 5.7 x 62.9 cm)
Signed"P.A. Contis" in black, lower right corner on art.
Historical NotesThis painting is part of a large collection of paintings and sketches by Peter and Helen Contis. Peter Contis emigrated to Pittsburgh in 1910 and began working in the restaurant business with his brothers. Peter later returned to his homeland of Greece and met Helen in 1928; they married three months later. Moving back to Pittsburgh, Peter eventually opened a restaurant called the Neon Grill in 1932, while Helen raised their three children. Nearly thirty years later, the restaurant was closed and razed, allowing the Contis' to realize their talent in art. A religious man all his life, Peter began painting landscapes, both of Pittsburgh and Greece, and other still lifes, focusing on God's perfect affection in nature: his buildings are symmetrical and colors are vivid. Helen's talents were not revealed until after Peter's death in 1973, when she began to paint poetically the landscapes and still lifes on her own. Helen died in 2004.

Related person Helen P. Contis (died 2004)

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