The Art and Activism of Sheldon Peck
Sheldon Peck was an American folk artist, conductor on the Underground Railroad, and social activist. His portraiture is a prime example of 19th century American folk art. His work can be divided into three distinctive periods based on his locations in Vermont, New York, and Illinois.
During his Vermont period, Peck created waist-length oil portraits on wood panels. These early works featured figures with somber faces, hard, angular planes, and immobile expressions against dark backgrounds. He utilized a signature decorative motif known as the rabbit track, consisting of three brushstrokes resembling a rabbit footprint. In his New York period, he continued painting half-length portraits on wood panels but began using a brighter color palette and adding accessories such as jewelry, Bibles, fruit, and drapery.
In his Illinois period, Peck transitioned from wood panels to canvas. To compete with the rising popularity of daguerreotypes, he introduced a brighter color palette and a horizontal format featuring multiple full-length figures. He also employed a trompe-l'œil frame painted directly onto the canvas.
A Life of Social Reform
Beyond his visual art, Peck was a radical abolitionist and a member of several organizations, including the DuPage County Anti-Slavery Society and the Liberty Party. He served as a volunteer agent for the Western Citizen newspaper and hosted guest speakers at his home, such as Johnny Jones and H. Ford Douglass.
Peck actively worked as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, using his property to hide freedom seekers and transporting them via wagon to Chicago. His activism also extended to other causes:
- Temperance: He advocated for the movement and held temperance meetings and picnics on his property.
- Public Education: He established a school in his house, paying the teacher's salary and providing space for public meetings.
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