Peter F Lund was born in Denmark. He emigrated around 1866 and settled in the Chicago, Illinois area. His wife Anna C Thompson was born on March 8th, 1847 in Norway and emigrated in 1853. Peter and Anna were married sometime between 1866 and 1871. They had 6 children. Between 1876-1879, the family moved to Albert Lea, Minnesota. The 1880 census shows Peter F Lund living in Albert Lea and his occupation listed as an “artist”. In 1883, Peter Lund is first listed in the Minneapolis, Minnesota directory. Peter would make Minneapolis, Minnesota and Duluth, Minnesota his home and studio until 1895.
In 1886, Peter shows one work, “Storm on the Coast” at the 1st Annual Minnesota Industrial Exposition. The next year at the 2nd Annual Minnesota Industrial Exposition, he shows two works, one of which was titled “Sea View on the Coast of Denmark”. Peter F Lund was primarily a marine painter. His death certificate even lists him such. It is not known the amount of education Peter had, but experts believe he may have not been a self-taught artist. His primary subject was Lake Superior with Clipper Ships. He also painted ship portraits and captured the local Minnesota logging scenes.
It is not known why, but in 1895, Peter moved to New York City. In 1897 he entered the National Academy of Design show exhibiting the work, “Moonlight over Lake Superior”. On June 16th, 1898, while living at 219 Hopkinson Ave in Brooklyn, Peter died of Spleen and Liver complications. Peter Lund was buried in the Evergreens Cemetery in New York City. In the 1900 census, his wife Anna and children are back living in Minneapolis, Minnesota.