Maxfield Parrish was one of America's most beloved artists working during the "Golden Age of American Illustration." He achieved incredible artistic renown and critical acclaim during his lifetime and has continued to interest new audiences ever since. His prolific body of work has been reproduced in books, calendars, art prints, advertisements, and magazines for generations. His paintings and murals always utilized a unique juxtaposition of designed elements, luminescent colors, photorealistic subjects and romantic images which combined to captivate his viewers.

In 1905, Parrish's met Susan Lewin, a 16-year old girl hired as a nanny for his son Dillwyn. Her image appears often in paintings from this time through the 1920s. Over time, Susan became Parrish's assistant, model for his paintings, and eventually his lover. His wife, Lydia, and Maxfield grew increasingly estranged and she left him in 1911. Susan stayed with Maxfield for another 50 years.

Maxfield Parrish so dominated the images America loved that in the 1920's one out of four homes had his world of make-believe hanging on their walls. In a survey taken in 1925, van Gogh, Cezanne and Parrish were thought to be the three greatest artists of all time. Consequently, Maxfield Parrish was the single most popular American artist of the early decades of the 20th century. The continuing demand for his art prints today indicates America's fondness for his fantasy images.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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