The former CEO of Ford displayed a stunning Taurus painting in his Detroit mansion.
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Donald Petersen dedicated 41 years to Ford Motor Company, serving the last decade as its CEO and ultimately as chairman and CEO. His peers believe he played a crucial role in rescuing the Dearborn automaker during a challenging period in global manufacturing, primarily by launching the popular Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable models. This may explain why Petersen showcased a stunning painting of the Ford sedan set against a waterfall.
The artwork, created by Fritz Mayhew, a former Ford design executive who collaborated with Petersen, was put up for sale (price not disclosed) by the auction house managing Petersen’s estate sale last weekend. It can be seen displayed above Petersen’s fireplace mantle in various photographs. You can view the complete catalog here.
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Petersen and his spouse, Jo Anne, both passed away within weeks of each other in 2024, each at the age of 97. Automotive News reports that the estate sale at their mansion in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, attracted such a large crowd that the final day had to be rescheduled. It remains uncertain if the Taurus painting was purchased by a fine art or Taurus enthusiast on the initial day of the sale, but I’m just happy to have come across a photograph of it, confirming its existence. I hope whoever acquires it displays it in a similarly special spot in their home.
Like many distinctive executives, Petersen owned a variety of unique and extravagant items, surprisingly with very few car-related pieces. His automotive art collection includes posters of a California Highway Patrol Ford Mustang featuring the phrase “This Ford Chases Porsches For A Living,” a watercolor from his induction into the Automotive Hall of Fame, another painting depicting Petersen aboard the Ford company jet en route to China, and a scale model of that jet. There is little racing memorabilia, but there is a single painting showing Jon Watson driving his McLaren-Ford at the 1982 Detroit F1 Grand Prix, along with a stylish poster celebrating Aston Martin’s achievements at Le Mans.
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If you're interested in fine china, vintage Louis Vuitton trunks, Chanel handbags, or exquisite figurines and Christmas ornaments, this estate sale would be a great place to explore—whenever it reopens.
So, where would you hang that stunning Taurus painting?
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The former CEO of Ford displayed a stunning Taurus painting in his Detroit mansion.
What, you've never imagined a Ford Taurus sitting atop a waterfall? That's definitely worthy of being on a mantel.