The Magical World of Maxfield Parrish in 10 Artworks

Who Was Maxfield Parrish?

Born in Philadelphia in 1870, Maxfield Parrish was raised in an art-loving family. His father, Stephen Parrish, was an artist who taught his son how to observe objects in nature. Family travels to Europe exposed him to European culture, further enhancing his artistic inclinations and increasing his creative activity. In 1892, he began studying at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts under Robert Vonnoh and Thomas P. Anschutz. Parrish was a member of the American Imagists, a movement influenced by various a range of European styles, such as including Art Nouveau, Les Nabis, and the Arts and Crafts Movement.

To create his fantastical artworks, Maxfield Parrish used models, photographs, dynamic symmetry, and vibrant colors. The cobalt blue he often used is still known as “Parrish Blue,” and a hallmark of most of his art. His contributions spanned posters and advertisements, paintings, book and magazine illustrations, and even murals, leaving behind a remarkable artistic legacy.

I. Posters and Advertisements

1. The Century, 1897

Parrish gained significant fame during his lifetime through his art posters. He started creating them as a child for school events. As a professional, he viewed these developed posters as advertisements for theatrical performances and products. In 1896, he entered The Century Poster Contest with his piece The Century, earning second place for using more colors than allowed. The model in the poster was his wife, Lydia, who often posed for him. This work became the most reproduced poster of the decade and helped establish his recognition as an artist.

2. Royal Baking Powder, 1895

In the 1910s, Parrish’s talent for blending aesthetic beauty with practical use made him a highly sought-after advertising artist. During this period, he collaborated with numerous well-known commercial firms, which was vital to his career advancement advancing his career. The range of products he advertised was extensive, He created advertisements for a diverse range of products, including cooking items like Royal Baking Powder, as well as Edison Mazda lamps and products from the Colgate Company.

II. Paintings

3. Daybreak, 1922

Daybreak, a 1922 painting by Maxfield Parrish, Painted in 1922, Daybreak is renowned for its lush tones and is the most popular art print of the 20th century and renowned for its lush tones. Measuring 26.5 by 45 inches, it features two feminine figures and was inspired by the landscapes of Vermont and New Hampshire hills. Parrish achieved a soft glow and whimsical style by utilizing a technique of glazing with oil paints, Parrish achieved a soft glow and whimsical style, characterized by mild lighting and contrasting tones. His use of the Golden Ratio helps focus on the two female figures, and his techniques have influenced many fantasy illustrators.

4. Hilltop, 1926

In Hilltop, the artist emphasizes the intricate contours of nature, elevating them to an idealistic vision reminiscent of Eden, while also hinting at the landscape paintings that would define his future work. This piece captivates viewers with its otherworldly magic. Parrish designed Hilltop using his friend’s daughters as models and by employing paper cut-outs, photography, and props to create a harmonious composition based on ancient principles. Using a detailed glazing technique inspired by Old Masters, he layered pure pigment and varnish over a white ground for a vibrant, luminous surface. This unique saturation and the light filtering through foliage enhance the artwork’s mystical quality.

III. Magazine Illustrations

5. The Lantern Bearers, 1908

Parrish’s career in magazine illustration began in early 1895 when two of his posters were featured as covers for Harper’s Bazaar. One of his notable posters works from this period is The Lantern Bearers for Collier’s. In this piece, pierrots hold bright yellow lanterns as they climb a staircase. The arrangement of the lanterns creates a dynamic upward diagonal, enhanced by a single sphere on the right, resulting in a striking and skillfully executed composition.

6. Jack and the Giant, 1908

Jack and the Giant was the first in a series of 12 fairy tale illustrations inspired by the classical theme of Once Upon a Time for Good Housekeeping magazine. Good Housekeeping would pay Maxfield Parrish $1000 for the reproduction rights to each picture, while returning the original artwork to him. This illustration eventually became the cover image for Collier’s magazine in the July 1910 issue.

IV. Landscapes

7. Hill Top Farm, Winter, 1949

In 1931, Parrish decided to shift his focus away from painting “girls on rocks” to concentrate on landscapes. By 1935, this new direction became his sole pursuit. Although his landscape works were less popular, they significantly contributed to his artistic growth. These paintings were rich in color and exquisite detail, showcasing his deep appreciation for nature and his artistic skill. Remarkably, he often created scale models of landscapes and photographed them under different lighting conditions to determine the best views for his paintings.

8. Arizona, 1950

The Parrish’s two trips to Arizona between 1901 and 1903 had a significant impact on him as a landscape painter. The dramatic effects of the southwestern sunrises and sunsets, with their vibrant colors and shadows, became a hallmark of Parrish’s his artistic style. At the age of 80, he painted a blue and orange canyon scene, which he titled Arizona.

V. Book Illustrations

9. The Dinkey Bird, c. 1904

The Dinkey Bird is one of Maxfield Parrish’s most famous illustrations from the book Poems of Childhood by Eugene Field. Parrish designed this piece to capture the essence of swinging, particularly the exhilarating moment during the turn of the motion. The nude figure of a young person, representing freedom and innocence, enhances the feeling of joy and abandon that is often associated with swinging.

10. The Pirate Ship

The Pirate Ship was first published in Collier’s magazine between 1904 and 1910 as part of The History of the Prince Codadad and His Brothers. These illustrations were later acquired by Charles Scribner’s Sons for The Arabian Nights, written by Nora A. Smith and Kate Douglas Wiggin. Parrish keeps viewers engaged throughout the series with a variety of effects. In this image, the bright colors of the ship, especially the large yellow sail against the blue water, create a striking contrast that is hard to miss.

Maxfield Parrish’s artworks gained significant popularity and received critical acclaim, establishing him as the most celebrated illustrator of the first half of the 20th century. and one of the most renowned illustrators of the Golden Age of American illustration. His popularity has remained strong, He remains one of the most renowned illustrators of the Golden Age of American illustration, and he continues to attract new admirers even today.