Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966)

Maxfield Parrish is regarded as one of America’s most celebrated illustrators. Painting historic and romanticized subjects, he often used his wife, Lydia Austin, and later, his companion Susan Lewin, as his sensuous models. His father, Stephen Parrish, a well known Philadelphia engraver, started Parrish on an artistic path at a young age. Almost immediately, Parrish was drawn to the egg tempera technique of the Old Masters and the romantic subjects of the Pre-Raphaelites. He went on to study art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Art where he was exposed to master illustrator Howard Pyle. It was there that he began using photography to plan his illustrations.

With his first paid commission, the mural old king cole in 1894, Parrish was discovered nationally. He produced his first magazine cover for Harper’s Bazaar in 1895, which led to commissions for more than 25 magazines over the course of the following 40 years. Also in demand as an advertising illustrator, Parrish produced calendars, greeting cards and prints. His images, depicting idealized women, are known for their romanticism, naturalism and pure fantasy.