" Shepherd with Purple Robe, Cover for Scribner's Magazine" Lot no. 3448
By Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966)
1899 (Estimated)
12.375" x 9.75"
Mixed Media on Paper Laid Down on Board
signed with initials 'M P' (lower right)
SOLD
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Signed with Initials 'M P' (Lower Right), Inscribed and Dated 'Windsor: Vermont/April of 1899.' (On the Reverse)
Literature
Scribner's Magazine, December 1899, cover illustration.
C. Ludwig, Maxfield Parrish, New York, 1973, p. 211, no. 216 (as Shepherd with Sheep).
L.S. Cutler, J.G. Cutler, Maxfield Parrish: A Retrospective, San Francisco, California, 1995, p. 39, illustrated.
L.S. Cutler, J.G. Cutler, Parrish & Poetry: A Gift of Words and Art, San Francisco, California, 1995, p. 19, illustrated.
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See all original artwork by Maxfield Parrish
ABOUT THE ARTIST
To behold the work of American illustrator Maxfield Parrish (1870–1966) is to enter into a fantasy world of ethereal beauty. Whether a book illustration, magazine cover, painting or mural commission, his flawlessly rendered subjects and fairy-tale settings are infused with a sense of mythical beauty unmatched by any artist in his wake
A Unique Approach
The magic and sublime spirit of Parrish’s work is the result of his unique approach to painting. He began with a white base which served to illuminate the image from the first layer up through to the last. Repeated layering of varnish on the surface of the pigment heightened the vibrancy of his colors, yielding shades like the famous "Parrish blue," a rich cobalt that is now indelibly associated with the artist. This singular technique allowed Parrish to convey textures and patterns with the intense detail and saturation of color that became trademarks of his best works.
This May, a museum-quality collection of 11 works by Maxfield Parrish pay tribute to the superior talent and unique vision of this seminal artist. A leading highlight of the collection is Sing a Song of Six Pence, measuring over 13 feet long and painted as a mural for the hotel bar of the Sherman House in Chicago, Illinois. Parrish began his career painting a mural of Old King Cole for the University of Pennsylvania in 1894, and was immediately recognized for his ability to render exquisite detail on a monumental scale. He often projected photographic images and then painted directly on the surface of his murals, which may account for the veracity of the features displayed in this work.