Leon Pescheret

Leon Rene Pescheret also known as Léon-René Pescheret (March 15, 1892 – February 23, 1971) was a British-American designer, watercolorist, etcher, and illustrator.

Pescheret was born in the London suburb of Chiswick, England to French parents. His father was a chef for Queen Victoria until she died. 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. In 1910, his father moved the family to Washington D.C. 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.

He was previously married to Grace Wallar Pescheret (1884-1950) and in 1951, he married Katherine Louis Pescheret née Firebaugh (1898-1985).

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 St., Whitewater, Wisconsin and opened his art studio and gallery there. For 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.

Pescheret was a member of the Society of American Engravers.

Leon Pescheret closed the Whitewater studio in 1967, relocating to Tucson, Arizona, where he died on February 23, 1971.