Monday morning – a cloudy one, at that. Most of the snow has melted because of a combination of warmer temperatures and rain. That’s good and bad. Good because the young deer can eat our grass on the front lawn again. They like to feed there during the winter. Bad because it looks gray and blah out there again. The snow was pretty!
I know, be careful what you wish for, Claudia!
More artwork, this time we’re back in the living room.
You know all about our vintage lithograph on the left. We purchased it on our first Paris trip and finally had it framed this year. We are completely besotted by it. It’s an ad for a coffee that was made by monks and this particular illustrator loved to use children in his work. It’s delightful, it makes us smile, it’s a tangible memory of Paris, it’s in French…what more could we want?
Next to it, one of my two vintage Maxfield Parrish prints. These are not modern reproductions, they’re vintage prints that were sold soon after Parrish painted them for publication. I have loved his work for years, dreamed of owning one of his creations, and it was only in the past 8 years or so that I was able to acquire two. This was the second of the two. It’s called Dinky Bird and it was part of a commissioned set of illustrations for a volume of Eugene Field’s poems. The original oil painting was purchased by multimillionaire Henry Russell Sage, was put in storage and disappeared for years until one of his grandchildren discovered it. It was painted in 1904.
I love the colors in this one. Parrish’s blues were rich and unlike those of any other artist.
My first Parrish, found at a local antique store and part of the collection of a longtime Parrish lover, is next.
Pierrot’s Serenade, one of Parrish’s illustrations for The Golden Treasury of Songs and Lyrics.
Trying to capture the golds in this print and the blues in the other print is impossible via the camera. They are gorgeous. The original was painted in 1908.
It’s funny. I wanted some of Parrish’s work for so long. Now that I have these two, I don’t feel the need to collect any more.
Well, let me correct that. If I found a vintage print of The Lantern Bearers, my favorite Parrish, I’d snap it up in a second. It is simply gorgeous. So far, I have never seen one.
Okay. Business: The winner of a copy of The Overstory is Leanne Shawler. Leanne, I’m going to send an email your way, but if you see this in the meantime, send me your mailing address and I’ll pass it on to Barbara. Congratulations!
Happy Monday.
More spectacular examples of design and illustration—my heart, too.
I love illustrations and graphics – can’t get enough.
Thank you, Shanna!
I’m with you on The Lantern Bearers, it’s just wonderful. It’s my favourite era for artwork. No wonder the early part of the 20th Century is called The Golden Age of Illustration. My friend has a print of Daybreak in her hallway, I know it’s a very popular print but it was left to her by her grandparents who were very wealthy and bought it in the twenties or thirties. She said as a child she always thought it was rather naughty as the figures didn’t appear to be wearing much clothing!
My favourite artist of this era is Edmund Dulac, I adore his fairy tale illustrations and have prints throughout my home. I also like an English illustrator, Ruth Cobb and bought from an antique shop, illustrations of Little Girls/Boys of Many Lands from a deconstructed book that was published in 1922.
Happy Monday
I’m not familiar with Edmund Dulac – at least, not by name. I’ll have to check out his work, Dee Dee. Thank you!
Thank you for introducing me to Maxfield Parrish and Norman Rockwell’s art. I can see how their work has influenced other artists. After reading about them on your blog, I have spent a little time doing further reading in my local library.
You’re most welcome, Miche!
I, too, had never known about Maxfield Parrish, until you posted about him. His artwork is quite intriguing and playful…love that. I googled The Lantern Bearers…I really like that one. Hope you find it!
The lithograph from Paris is wonderful…again, it’s just fun, and a great memory. Enjoy your day! ;)
Thank you, Donnamae!
Your Parrish prints are precious. Congratulations on finding them. Long time favorite.
Congratulations to Leanne as well!
He was a wonderful artist, Martha. Thank you!
You know I love the Paris piece. But I’ve always been a Parrish fan as well and these are lovely (I confess, the Pierrot wins my heart!)
I love the Pierrot. Thanks, Jeanie.
I think it’s great. how much you know about your art; the back story!
I think everything should have a back story, Vicki! Thank you!
congratulations to leanne for winning the book … enjoy!
and thanks to you, claudia, for sharing more of your art! i have several collections from over the years and enjoy seeing them en masse … but there are things, i think, so extra-special in their details and meaning that they deserve to have the spotlight all to themselves. for me that includes photos of and art by my beloved family (i put nothing else on the wall by them), a couple of old signs and a large painting of an angel (by a dear friend in new orleans). and mostly it’s that i am grateful to have what i have and realize i am lucky to have even one piece, you know? maybe parrish is like that for you …?
i looked up “lantern bearers” and … wow … the images and especially the colors! will keep on the lookout for it for you.
hope it’s been a good day for you.
kathy in iowa
I think Parrish is just like that for me. Unless I find The Lantern Bearers, then all bets are off! Thanks, Kathy!