Background
Pescheret was born in the London suburb of Chiswick, England to French parents. His father was a chef for Queen Victoria until she died. In 1910 his father moved the family to Washington District of Columbia
Pescheret was born in the London suburb of Chiswick, England to French parents. His father was a chef for Queen Victoria until she died. In 1910 his father moved the family to Washington District of Columbia
Pescheret began his studies at the Royal College of Engraving in Kensington under Malcolm Osborne, and the Battersea Polytechnic (now called the University of Surrey) in London. and became chef for the British Ambassador to the United States. By the 1920s he was attending the Art Institute of Chicago studying interior design under French artist/muralist Albert Francis Fleury. Pescheret served in the American Army during World War I.
Pescheret devoted his business to etching full-time by 1930.
While exhibiting in 1933 at the Century of Progress, he became interested in color etchings.
To study this craft, he returned to Europe and became the private pupil of Roger Hebbelinck, a famous color etcher, and gained practical knowledge in doing one and multiple plate work. In 1936, he purchased the Halverson Home located on 519 West Main Saint, Whitewater, Wisconsin and opened his art studio and gallery there.
Foreign the next 31 years he produced both color and monochrome etchings from this studio. Pescheret authored several books including "An Introduction to Color Etching" (1952) and "Principle and Practice of Interior Decorating" (1925).
He also illustrated two books written by Alfred Hoyt Granger, "The Spirit of Vienna" (1935) and "Chicago Welcomes You," (1933) as well as contributing works to American Artist and Arizona Highways magazines.
Pescheret did various architectural, interior designs and decorative art projects in his career including for Drake Hotel in Chicago, the Memorial Union Building at the University of Wisconsin. The Peoria, Illinois Country Club. And the British Museum.
Leon Pescheret closed the Whitewater studio in 1967, relocating to Tucson, Arizona, where he died on February 23, 1971.
Pescheret was a member of the Society of American Engravers.