Have You Seen These Paintings?

The Hudson River Valley was and still is a place of awe and wonder. It is also a place where many of my ancestors have made their mark on its local history. One of them was Peter MacGregor who lived for many years and was buried in Wappingers Falls, NY. A native of Scotland he came to America as a young man and lived and worked in New York City as a photographer on Canal Street before moving his family to Wappingers Falls.

Many of his paintings have been in the family for generations, three of which have hung on the walls of our family homes for generations and can be seen in many family portraits through the generations. However a few years ago (I think 1997) and unbeknownst to me my elderly mother sold two of them to an eager Massachusetts antique dealer. By the time I learned the news the paintings were sold and seemingly untraceable as artists of that generation did not sign their work.

The sole remaining painting in my possession is the above self portrait. I am grateful to have this but I am now on a search to find, at the least, the other two paintings. And to do so for their archival and geneological reasons as well as for my own personal growth as an artist.

One of the sold paintings was a rather large landscape painting that is painted in the Hudson River School genre. The main focus of the painting is a large tree and under it is at least one horse with a man standing by it. While he may not have been given quite the level of status of the Hudson River painters, until I learn more about him I think his work holds up nicely in comparison. I have posted a photograph I found where this painting is hanging on the wall. I have blown it up the best I can but it is still difficult to see the details. The painting was not in perfect condition at the time of its sale and I believe it was painted on panel. There may be an old note tacked to the back of it that was typed by my grandmother, Madeline MacGregor Stalker that included instructions on how to clean the painting.

The other painting is smaller and is a close up of strawberries. It is remarkable in its simplicity and its reality. I faintly remember there are three strawberries and the frame used an oval matte around the painting.

My goal is to find these and any other paintings by Peter so I can know more about this talented family member. And my dream is to own as many of his paintings as I can so they can stay in the family.

Thank you for any help you can be in my search to learn as much as I can about the Hudson River, it's painters and people and my great, great, great Grandfather Peter MacGregor.