Blue Boy:I had the happy opportunity to visit the R.W. Norton Art Gallery in Shreveport this weekend. Along with their exquisite permanent collections, The Norton presented a special exhibition, "Fantasies and Fairytales: Maxfield Parrish and the Art of Print" (showing now through April 11, 2010.)
This exhibit included a comprehensive sampling of Parrish's illustrative work in a variety of printed media. Lithographs, calendars, posters, advertisements, books, magazine covers, and illustrations -- my head was reeling with the beauty of it all! Ya know, I have a special place in my heart for illustrators -- they too are true artists -- no matter what art snobs may say!
Parrish's oeuvre is housed at the National Museum of American Illustration in Newport, Rhode Island -- along with the likes of Norman Rockwell, J.C. Leyendecker, Howard Pyle, Charles Dana Gibson, and the three Wyeth's, N.C., Andrew and Jamie -- so it was a special treat to view his work so close to home.
Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966) was known mostly for his color prints designed for the mass market. His work graced the covers of Collier's and Life for many years. "The Garden of Allah," "Daybreak," "Dawn," and "The Sirens of Titan" were huge hits in America during his heyday, embraced by millions of households. He had a fine eye for detail, fantastical romance, and luminous color -- especially blue which became one of his trademarks, "Parrish blue." And he has been the inspiration for modern artists such as The Moody Blues, Dali's Car, Elton John, Michael Jackson, Enya, Kurt Vonnegut, Bloom County, and the producers of The Princess Bride.
One year before his death, Maxfield Parrish's 30' x 40' oil painting, "The Errant Pan" which was first published as the frontispiece for Scribner's Magazine in August of 1910, was procured by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. His work long regarded as "kitsch" by some art critics, Parrish felt honored by The Met's purchase and finally validated as a true painter.
(Footnote: His second son, Maxfield Parrish Jr., helped develop the first self-developing camera with Dr. Edwin H. Land's Polaroid Corporation!)
Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966) was known mostly for his color prints designed for the mass market. His work graced the covers of Collier's and Life for many years. "The Garden of Allah," "Daybreak," "Dawn," and "The Sirens of Titan" were huge hits in America during his heyday, embraced by millions of households. He had a fine eye for detail, fantastical romance, and luminous color -- especially blue which became one of his trademarks, "Parrish blue." And he has been the inspiration for modern artists such as The Moody Blues, Dali's Car, Elton John, Michael Jackson, Enya, Kurt Vonnegut, Bloom County, and the producers of The Princess Bride.
One year before his death, Maxfield Parrish's 30' x 40' oil painting, "The Errant Pan" which was first published as the frontispiece for Scribner's Magazine in August of 1910, was procured by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. His work long regarded as "kitsch" by some art critics, Parrish felt honored by The Met's purchase and finally validated as a true painter.
(Footnote: His second son, Maxfield Parrish Jr., helped develop the first self-developing camera with Dr. Edwin H. Land's Polaroid Corporation!)
No comments:
Post a Comment