Hortons Point
Object number2007.131.116
Artist
Helen P. Contis
(died 2004)
Date1988
MediumAcrylic paint; paper
Credit LineGift of Helen Contis
DescriptionAcrylic painting on canvas. Multi-colored. Blue sky. Black trees with green, orange, white, and red leaves. Seven buildings, one grey car. Blue water on bottom half with two white sailboats and grey rocks.Dimensions24 x 18 in. (61 x 45.7 cm)Signed"1988 / Helen P Contis" lower right and back, in black and white.
InscriptionsHandwritten on back, center right, "To George & Mary Jane / Love / Helen P Contis".
MarksOn black stamped information square in center, "Helen P Contis / Hortons Point LI / 1988".
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
Peter A. Contis
(died 1973)
On View
Not on view
