1940

Casting from bust portrait. George Harrison Shull (1874 – 1954) was an eminent American plant geneticist. Shull played an important role in the development of hybrid maize which had great impact upon global agriculture. This sculpture was created during a three day visit…

Bas relief sculpture of an athlete

Sarah Gibson Blanding (1898 – 1985) was an American educator and academic administrator who served as Vassar College’s sixth president (1946–1964) and its first female president. Mrs. Blanding, originally from Kentucky, was the mother of Sara Gibson Blanding and met…

Demonstration sketch, probably done at the Iowa State Fair.

Created for the artist’s wife Charlotte and the Playmakers community theater group of Ames.

Bas relief portrait of founder, Home Federal Savings and Loan, Des Moines, Iowa.

Portrait bust of Successful Farming editor.

Portrait bust of an artist and friend of Petersen.

Portrait bust of dean, College of Agriculture, Iowa State College.

Portrait bust, sculpted at the Iowa State Fair. Anna Bell Lawther (1872 - 1957) was a leader in the women’s suffrage movement in the U.S. state of Iowa.

Rough sketch of standing woman holding a child in one arm.

Portrait bas relief of conductor presented to him when he left as Music Director of the Minneapolis Symphony, participant in the Iowa State Concert Series, for the New York Philharmonic. Commissioned by Tolbert MacRae, head of the Iowa State College Music Department from…

Portrait bas relief of conductor presented to him when he left as Music Director of the Minneapolis Symphony, participant in the Iowa State Concert Series, for the New York Philharmonic. Commissioned by Tolbert MacRae, head of the Iowa State College Music Department from…

Portrait bas relief of conductor; copy of bronze one given to him when he left his position as Music Director for the Minneapolis Symphony, participant in the Iowa State Concert Series, for the New York Philharmonic.

Created for the artist’s wife Charlotte and the Playmakers community theater group of Ames.

Bas relief of two children, a boy and girl.

Half-figure sculpture of nude mother figure holding nude child close to her chest, both wearing expressions of horror. Inspired by World War II bombings in Europe.

Bas relief portrait plaque of children of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Weiss.

Portrait bust of Wilson (1884–1953) Governor of Iowa 1939–1943.

Portrait bust of sculptor of Mount Rushmore; Borglum is possibly known to Petersen from Petersen’s early career in New York.

Hair is pulled back into two buns worn in the middle/back of her head.

Figure portraying a young pioneer mother carrying a small child in her arms.

Aged female with her hands placed together in prayer and eyes looking upward.

Ames, Iowa resident

Original plaster models for Fountain of the Four Seasons figures.

Portrait bust. Robertson was active in the arts in Ames. This sculpture was begun as a demonstration to the Ames Women’s Club, and shown at several meetings to illustrate the sculpture process.

Sketch of Petersen’s wife, Charlotte, frontal view, reading a book on her lap.

Sketch of Charlotte Petersen, the artist’s wife, full length, side profile wearing a coat and hat.

Sketch depicting the artist’s wife Charlotte with daughter Mary on her lap. Both are asleep in a chair.

Study for memorial plaque of professor in Iowa State’s Genetics Department.

Sketch of two dancing men in motion.

Sketch of a house and driveway.

The artist’s daughter wearing a dress and holding and gazing at a doll.

Preliminary study for engraving of artist’s daughter wearing a dress and holding and gazing at a doll.

Sketch of the daughter of the Petersen’s neighbors.

Back side of seated woman looking over her left shoulder.

One detailed sketch of the four maiden fountain concept and one sketch of the bas relief surround.

Bust modeled during a Lion’s Club meeting in Ames, Iowa as part of the Ames Art Fair, a National Art Week celebration.

Bust sculpted at a meeting of the Business and Professionals Womens Club, Ames, Iowa, on Nov. 11, 1940.