Maxfield Parrish

Happy Birthday Maxfield Parrish!! American illustrator born in 1870, in America, Parrish painted crisply precise fantasy images. His father was a painter and engraver; his parents encouraged him to pursue art. He was a well-known illustrator for books, calendars and magazines such as Life, Collier’s and others. He also created numerous ads. Parrish is credited for furthering American illustrative art at the turn of the century. He drew from Pre-Raphaelite painting for his inspiration, painting woodland scenes with fair maidens and chivalrous knights. His beautiful women on rocks became a favored subject, so much so, that in 1931 he claimed to “be through with women and rocks”! Parrish used a glazing technique where brilliant colors were separated by thick layers of varnish, creating incredible depth in his scenes. He usually used a bright blue with white for his under color and his blue became a signature color, Parrish Blue. He also had a unique technique for depicting figures wearing black and white geometric patterned fabrics. The painting I have included here is perhaps his most famous from his women and rocks series: Ecstasy.