The Instruments of Peter and the Wolf
Drawing on paper • Anonymous student or amateur illustrator
Style & Movement
Illustrative Folk Art / Educational Naive Art
Medium & Technique
Colored markers, graphite pencil, and ballpoint pen on white paper; uses flat coloring and line drawing techniques
Creation Period
Early 21st Century (Contemporary)
Dimensions & Format
Standard letter or A4 size (approx. 8.5 x 11 inches), horizontal landscape orientation with a 4 over 3 grid layout
Subject Description
A grid of seven panels anthropomorphizing characters from Sergei Prokofiev's 'Peter and the Wolf' as human musicians playing their corresponding orchestral instruments: Peter (violin/strings), Bird (flute), Duck (oboe), Cat (clarinet), Grandfather (bassoon), Hunters (timpani), and Wolf (French horns)
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good; shows minor handling wear and slight paper curling typical of student work
Estimated Market Value
$10 - $50 (Sentimental value primarily)
Auction Estimate
$5 - $25 (Non-commercial category)
Provenance History
Private collection; likely created as a classroom project or personal study related to musical education
Art Historical Significance
Represents the intersection of music education and visual storytelling; serves as a mnemonic device for teaching the instrumentation of classical music to children
Notable Features
Hand-written identifiers for each character and unique character designs that personify woodwind, brass, and string instruments
Condition Issues
Slight vertical creasing, minor smudging of graphite text, and uneven margins from hand-cutting the paper
Conservation Recommendations
Keep in a dry environment; use acid-free sleeves for storage; avoid direct sunlight to prevent marker ink fading