Study of Birds

Object number2007.131.90

Artist Peter A. Contis (died 1973)

Date1962-1973

MediumAcrylic; canvas; paper; glass; metal

Credit LineGift of Helen Contis

DescriptionFour acrylic paintings on canvas, attached/overlapping each other. Top left painting: two light brown birds with yellow heads, brown and green faces. Green leaves on branches, trees. Top right painting: Multicolored rooster, facing west. Blue background, brown soil with green grass. Lower right painting: Five encircled birds, everything multicolored; two smaller circles, at top and bottom center, with cross-designs. Lower left painting: Multi-colored. Six birds, one landing toward branch and five sitting on various branches. Green leaves on brown and black branches.Dimensions3075 x 1.375 x 24.625 in. (78.1 x 3.5 x 62.5 cm)
Signed"PA Contis" bottom right corners of lower right painting and top right painting.
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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