Edison Mazda Lamp General Electric Maxfield Parrish Art Posters

Maxfield Parrish, Edison Mazda Lamp Works Calendar featuring Dawn, 1918. Lithographic reproduction of original oil painting, printed past Forbes Lithography Co. Private collection. Photograph: David Putnam.

Maxfield Parrish was i of the most popular American artists of the early on 20th century. Known for his unique creative style blending realism and fantasy, Parrish created images that were enjoyed by both elite collectors and the American public. His paintings and illustrations were ofttimes distributed as high quality color lithographic reproductions, and included on advertisements, posters and calendars. More than fifty prints of Parrish's most famous work, as well equally a number of original oil paintings, volition be on view in Maxfield Parrish: The Ability of the Impress, a focus exhibition at the Currier Museum of Art, October 9, 2015 through Jan 10, 2016.

Maxfield Parrish, (Philadelphia, PA, 1870-1966, Windsor, VT), Edison Mazda Lamp Works Agenda featuring Lamp Seller of Bagdad, 1923. Lithographic reproduction of original oil painting (1922) printed by Forbes Lithography Co.36 x 17 inches. Private Collection. Photo by David Putnam.

"Maxfield Parrish combined the creativity and virtuosity of a fine creative person with the not bad business sense of a commercial artist," said Samantha Cataldo, exhibition curator. "His figural and mural paintings were masterfully rendered and profoundly highly-seasoned, but information technology was his engagement with the emerging printing applied science of the time that catapulted him to fame. His images became staples in homes and business across America."

Parrish's work appeared in magazines and books since the 1890s and his paintings were distributed every bit prints as early as 1904. Information technology was between the 1910s and the early on 1930s that Parrish created some of his most enduring images, which were disseminated in diverse forms. His almost famous artwork,

Daybreak (1922)

was a painting that Parrish created specifically to be reproduced using loftier-quality colour lithography. Daybreak's popularity was so slap-up that within just a few years some estimates claimed that ane in 4 American homes owned a copy of this print.

Prometheus

Between 1917 and 1932, Parrish created art calendars for General Electric's Edison Mazda Lamp division that featured figural, fantastic scenes—more than 20 one thousand thousand of these calendars were produced. These calendar prints are often considered the best print examples of Parrish's piece of work, and all of these stunning images volition be on view in the exhibition.

Spirit of the Dark

While the public consumed his prints, individual collectors purchased his paintings. In a movement that was alee of its time, Parrish wisely maintained the copyright on all of his images, allowing him to collect royalties for reproductions and making him one of America's most financially successful artists.

Egyptian Night

Today, Parrish's popularity remains potent, specially here in New Hampshire, the artist's adopted home of more than 60 years. In 1999, the Currier presented Maxfield Parrish: 1870-1966, a traveling retrospective organized by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. It remains ane of the highest-attended shows in the Museum'southward 85-yr history. A more focused exhibition, The Power of the Print aims to explore how and why Parrish became, and remains, such a popular American artist.

Primitive Man

About the Exhibition

This focus exhibition features vintage lithographic prints, ads, posters, magazines, books, greeting cards and calendars that feature Parrish's works. The exhibition is largely drawn from private collections, only also includes work from the Currier'south drove, as well as from the Hood Museum of Fine art at Dartmouth College. Information technology also features several Parrish paintings, including the Currier'southward company favorite,

Freeman Farm: Wintertime (1935).

About Maxfield Parrish

Maxfield Parrish was born Frederick Parrish in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1870 to Elizabeth Bancroft Parrish and Steven Parrish, a noted engraver and painter. He studied architecture at Haverford Higher, and fine art at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts besides as at Drexel Institute, where he audited courses with famed illustrator Howard Pyle (1853–1911). In 1898, Parrish moved to Plainfield, New Hampshire, near Cornish, where he built his home and studio, which he named "The Oaks" after the distinguishing trees on the land. He lived in that location until his expiry in 1966.