Maxfield Parrish: Dessert Trolley of the Art World

 Sweet Menu

Dream Castle in the Sky, 1908

I recognized the art straight away (I have the box-set of notelets!), but had no idea who the artist was: Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966), today being the anniversary of his birth-date, 25th July.

    

Dinky Bird, 1904 // Dreamlight // The Canyon, 1923

By the Light of the Golden Age

Already a brilliant and successful Artist of the 'Golden Age of American Illustration' (1800-1920), his work took on a whole new dimension whilst recovering from TB in the Adirondacks (1900), where his usual supply of lithographic inks froze in the climate! He switched to oils, and in the process of experimentation, discovered innovative techniques to maximize the saturation and luminosity he became so famous for. His work appeared everywhere: on seed packets; Edison-Mazda Light bulbs; tyres; toothpaste...

...as well as illustrations for the Arabian Nights; he got a little bit saturated with his own success, making a firm decision to give up on the 'girls on rocks' he was so used to putting out constantly.

But, his work continues to be used, as in my notelets; the covers of albums by Elton John; Moody Blues, and Dali's Car.

Daybreak (1922), the most popular art print of the 20th Century makes it to Dali's Car Album

Binge-Fest:

Here's a couple of minutes worth of his sumptuous offerings with Mike Oldfield's 'Jungle Gardenia' as backing: