Born in Denmark, Toft travelled to United States in 1842 to work as a whaler. On his many travels he painted the harbours, the frontiers and cities he worked in. He quickly became famous and got published many times in Harper’s Magazine. Besides working as a whaler he also worked as a gold digger in California, and on the railroad. Later Toft joined the army and participated in the American-Mexican war from 1846-48. Toft continued drawing and travelling right up to his death in his London home in 1901.
Exhibitions:
1871-81: The Royal Art Academy in London.
1879: Charlottenborg in Denmark
1867: New York.
1867: Denmark
1870-1901: London, until his death.
1963: Art Perspective of history. Pacific Northwest. Montana History society. Helena, Montana.
1975: Frontier America, The Far west. Museum of fine arts. Boston, Massachusetts.
Travels:
1842: Worked as a whaler in the U.S
1846-48: Participated in the American-Mexican war.
1849: Oregon, Washington state, British Columbia
1852: Canada
1865-66: Montana.
Auction prices:
Peter Toft is listed in artprice.com and his watercolors have been sold for $7,000. (Christies, Beverly-Hills-CA. 20-11-2002. Lot no. 22)
Øbro Art Gallery 