Probst Gallery, 1988-2008

Probst Gallery

Correspondence with the Kenneth Probst Gallery in Chicago, Illinois, which hosted a major exhibition of Bela Petheo's work and sold several of his paintings over the years.

Letter from Ken Probst, September 17, 2008. Returning all five paintings he still has by Bela Petheo. Encloses new business card. Kenneth Probst Galleries letterhead crossed out and new business contact information handwritten by Bela Petheo.

Enclosed: Returned to Bela Petheo, September 17, 2008. List of paintings, with descriptions; Consignment sheet, August 22, 1994.

Letter from Ken Probst, March 7, 2007. One painting "Toward the Salute" was sold, and Bela Petheo was paid. Three paintings from August 1994 are still in Probst's posession. One painting has never been in Probst's inventory.

Enclosed: Consignment sheet, October 15, 1999, one painting recently sold; Letter to Ken Probst, October 30, 2000? with sticky note attached, records indicate payment in April 2001 for "Toward the Salute;" Consignment sheet, August 22, 1994; Consignment sheet, October 28, 1997, one painting recently sold.

Letter to Ken Probst, March 1, 2007. Still some paintings that Bela Petheo cannot account for. Thumbnail sketches. Did they ever sell?

Letter from Ken Probst, February 26, 2007. On Kenneth A. Probst Galleries letterhead with a Wilmette address. Sold two paintings but wants to verify price of one, as there was no price on the consignment sheet.

Enclosed: Consignment sheets, October 28, 1997, and October 15, 1999.

Letter from Ken Probst to Bela and Kathy Petheo, December 21, 2006. He has closed his gallery in 2005. His new position in the art world.

Letter to Ken Probst and his family, December 27, 2006. Impressed with Probst's new post. Family news.

Letter from Ken Probst, January 21, 2002. He is running low on paintings by Bela Petheo and would like more.

Letter from Ken Probst, April 7, 2001. Paintings sold in the past year.

Letter from Ken Probst, January 29, 2000. Belated Christmas wishes. The Crowls bought another of Bela Petheo's paintings. Calculations on reverse.

Toward the Salute, oil 26 x 50", Probst 95. Thumbnail sketches of eight paintings, most recent from 1999. Notes on sales. Updated 2002.

Letter to Ken Probst, December 12, 1999. Calls attention to photocopied letter on reverse. Sending slides.

On reverse: letter from Derrick R. Cartwright of the Musée d'Art Américain in Giverny, November 24, 1999. Thanks Bela Petheo for the books by and about him.

Consignment sheet, October 15, 1999. Signed by Kenneth A. Probst, October 15, 1999.

16th Annual Antiques Show and Sale. Newspaper clipping. Undated. Taped to paper with handwritten note: "For '99." Also Ken Probst's phone numbers at the gallery and a hotel. Stapled to paper with Ken Probst's phone numbers at home and at gallery.

Check request by Kenneth Probst Galleries to Cacophony Productions, October 22, 1998. Rental of two paintings.

Fax or Fedex instructions.

Fedex USA Airbill, October 23, 1998. From Cacophony Productions to Bela Petheo. Recipient's copy.

Letter to Ken Probst, March 12, 1998. Bela Petheo would like to paint in Giverny but thinks he cannot have an all-Giverny or all-Venice show.

Letter to Ken Probst, October 28, 1997. Consignment sheet for three acrylics. Signed by Kenneth A. Probst, November 15, 1997.

Note from Ken Probst. November 15, 1997? Paintings look very good.

Paintings returned to Bela Petheo, October 18, 1997. Thumbnail sketches and brief descriptions.

Letter from Ken Probst, August 2, 1997. Two paintings sold, six still in stock.

Enclosed: Check. Photocopy.

Letter from Ken Probst, March 22, 1996. Report on paintings sold. Check enclosed. Calculations if remaining works sell.

Christmas card from Ken Probst to Kathy and Bela Petheo, December, 1995.

Letter from Ken Probst, December 19, 1995. Encloses contract for painting of Katharine Crowl. Suggestions for portrait setting.

Enclosed: Invoice/Contract, December 15, 1995. On Kenneth Probst Galleries letterhead. Agreement with David Crowl for a commissioned portrait of Katharine Crowl, his wife. With handwritten notes.

Attached: David B. Crowl business card.

Letter from Ken Probst, December 15, 1995. Report on sales, and encloses artist's statements.

Enclosed: Artist's Statement, November, 1995. Corrected version and Bela's rough draft. Both have handwritten notes.

Letter from David B. Crowl, December 12, 1995. Expresses pleasure at their meeting, and is looking forward to the painting.

Invoice/Contract, December 15, 1995. On Kenneth Probst Galleries letterhead. Artist's copy. Agreement with David Crowl for a commissioned portrait of Katharine Crowl, his wife. With handwritten notes.

Questions most frequently asked about portrait commissions (and answers also). Bela Petheo's explanation of terms to potential patron. With notes about the Crowl painting.

"Chicagói krónika!" Column by Harmath István in Kanadai-Amerikai Magyarság, no. 48, December 2, 1995, p. 10. About Bela Petheo's show in Chicago. In Hungarian.

Photocopy with highlighting.

3 additional photocopies.

Slides, November 18, 1995. Thumbnail sketches, descriptions, prices, note about return.

Dennis + Conrad Ormseth, November 17, 1995. Phone number and notes.

Petheö Képek Velencéböl. Undated. Stamped Imre J.J. Koroknay, Toronto, Ontario. Announcement, in Hungarian, about Bela Petheo's Chicago show.

Chicago Trip NW. Undated, but before November 8, 1995. Handwritten notes about travel arrangements.

Letter from Jan Faulhaber. Undated. November, 1995? Has seen Bela Petheo's exhibit, and for postcards about his Chicago show to send to friends.

Saint Cloud Friends of MIA, November, 1995. Newsletter.

Letter from Ken Probst, October 27, 1995. Encloses some "goodies." Framing is finished, and pictures are ready to hang.

Enclosed: Press Release by Kenneth Probst Galleries, October 20, 1995. Announces opening of one-man show by Bela Petheo. Handwritten note by Ken Probst lists newspapers to which this announcement was sent.

Also enclosed: Dear friends of the gallery. Letter from Kenneth Probst Galleries. Undated. October, 1995? Invitation to artist reception. Handwritten note from Ken Probst about how many letters and postcards have been sent.

Artist's statement, November 1995. Handwritten note from Ken Probst about editing done.

Memo to Gordon Goetemann, chair of the Art Department, October 18, 1995. Requests travel allowance to see Monet show and attend opening of exhibition at Probst Gallery. 2 copies.

Letter to Bursch Travel Agency, October 18, 1995. Instructions on booking flight to Chicago, and billing.

6 oils framed @ $350. Notes on exhibition dates, artist's statement, delivery date. Before October 15, 1995.

6 oils framed @ $350. Carbon copy.

Twelfth Annual Antiques Show & Sale, October 12-15, 1995. Brochure. Kenneth Probst Galleries is one of the exhibitors. Note by Bela Petheo: How do you exhibit it?

Letter from Casmers (?), October 19, 1995. Is working in North Carolina, mentions sadness at Joe O'Connell's death, asks to have Chicago gallery send invitation.

Envelope from Kenneth Probst Galleries, October 2, 1995. Back has suggested summary description of exhibition.

Letter from Ken Probst, September 20, 1995. Agreement enclosed, looking forward to show. Reverse has handwritten notes with questions by Bela Petheo about the agreement.

Enclosed: Agreement, September 20, 1995. Regarding exhibition opening in November. "Venice '95" is attached as Exhibit A. Handwritten notes, and updated October, 1998.

Venice '95. Thumbnail sketches of 14 paintings and 10 watercolors. Signed by Kenneth A. Probst, September 13, 1995.

6 oils, 7 acrylics. Undated. Between July 10, 1995 and September 13, 1995. Calculations of expenses for exhibition.

Letter from Ken Probst, June 22, 1995. Sending signed consignment sheet. Requests a particular subject for a painting when Bela Petheo is next in Venice.

Consignment sheet, April 19, 1995. Signed by Kenneth A. Probst.

Consignment sheet, August 22, 1994. Artist's copy, signed by Kenneth A. Probst. Updated October, 1997.

Letter from Ken Probst, April 9, 1994. Four paintings sold, all to same corporate collection. Check enclosed.

Enclosed: photocopies of three consignment sheets. January 10, 1992; January 5, 1993; January 11, 1993.

Letter from Ken Probst, October 21, 1993. Three paintings sold.

Consignment sheet, October 14, 1993. Updated October, 1997, when one painting was returned.

Minneapolis Institute of Arts 10th Annual Antiques Show. September, 1993? RSVP requested by October 1, 1993. Brochure with poster on reverse. Kenneth Probst Galleries of Chicago is one of the exhibitors. Note by Bela Petheo that 32 of his works were included.

Letter from Ken Probst, February 4, 1993. A client is very interested in three of Bela Petheo's marine paintings.

Consignment sheet, January 11, 1993. Signed photocopy, with letter to Kenneth Probst on back.

Consignment sheet, January 5, 1993. Signed photocopy, with letter to Kenneth Probst on back.

Letter from Ken Probst, January 9, 1993. Sketch of gallery space and request for two paintings with same subject matter, similar size. Note on back by Bela Petheo to inquire about this.

Enclosed: color photo, 3.5 x 5.5 inches of a painting by Bela Petheo framed by Kenneth Probst Galleries. A pink figure is in or behind the prow of a boat with an outboard motor, building in background has lights on. Note on back by Bela Petheo wondering whether this painting had sold.

Letter from Ken Probst to Bela Petheo and family, December 10, 1992. Stillwater paintings arrived and went out on approval but did not sell. Also, the St. Paul mayor backed out. Sends check for one sale. Note by Bela Petheo on sale date of one Stillwater painting.

Enclosed: Consignment sheet, November 24, 1992. Signed by Kenneth A. Probst, December 10, 1992. Note by Bela Petheo on sale, October, 1993.

Letter to Kenneth Probst, September 12, 1992. Hopes two paintings of Stillwater at twilight arrived safely.

Letter from Ken Probst, January 30, 1992. Two paintings out on approval, two sold.

For Ken Probst, January 10, 1992. Consignment sheet with title, medium, year, price. Signed by Kenneth A. Probst. With note, February 3, 1992 about landscape for mayor of St. Paul.

Letter to Kenneth Probst, November 30, 1991. Thanks for the check. Kokoschka book.

Letter from Ken Probst, November 25, 1991. A total of six paintings sold that fall.

Enclosed: original agreement (Picked up by Mr. Kenneth Probst from Bela Petheo, July 29, 1990) with annotations on what had sold. Updated again in February, 1992.

Letter to Ken A. Probst, October 9, 1991. Sending some slides to show to the mayor of St. Paul. Photocopy. Note to send one of the paintings to Probst, October 23, 1991. Notes on back of more for Ken.

Kenneth A. Probst, Kenneth Probst Galleries business card. Undated. 1990?

Letter from Kenneth Probst, November 13, 1990. On Kenneth Probst Galleries letterhead. For the first time, he has sold two of Bela Petheo's paintings.

Picked up by Mr. Kenneth Probst from Bela Petheo, July 29, 1990. Consignment sheet with title, size, medium, price. Some have thumbnail sketches. Signed by Kenneth A. Probst, Kenneth A. Probst Galleries Inc. Notes in pen regarding two sales in November, 1990.

Vahlkamp & Probst: Recent Acquisitions. Catalog. 1989.

Vahlkamp & Probst 1988 Spring Collection. Catalog.

Enclosure: letter from E. Duane Engstrom, May 7, 1990. Engstrom had mentioned a Chicago dealer familiar with Bela Petheo's work. Painting council, mutual friends.

Attached: Kenneth Probst, Vahlkamp & Probst business card. Pen mark over end of phone number.