Peterson was an extremely well-traveled individual for an American female artist at the time. She toured extensively in England and France during the early 1900s and, in 1909, she ventured to Madrid, to study under Joaquin Sorolla, before continuing on through Egypt and Algeria. Venice and its colorful, sun-bathed views was likely a favorite subject for Peterson, allowing her to develop her post-Impressionistic style of painting (she is often linked stylistically to fellow American artist Maurice Prendergast). She studied in Venice between 1908 and 1909 under the English artist Frank Brangwyn. (http://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/asp/fullcatalogue.asp?salelot=2318++++++33+&refno=++677164)