Exhibitions 2005

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Maxfield Parrish: Master of Make-Believe
Sept. 28- Nov. 27, 2005

This fall, the Telfair is delighted to present an exceptional exhibition of the work of Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966), one of the best-known and beloved American artists. During his lifetime, Parrish enjoyed an immense level of popular success due to his consummate mastery of the crafts of painting and illustration, and to the newly developed high-quality color printing techniques that aided the dissemination of reproductions of his work. The artist committed himself to the popularization and democratization of art, viewing beauty as a form of social improvement.

Parrish studied at the prestigious Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, melding his fine and applied art skills into his own imaginative style. He established a highly successful career based on the broad appeal of his delightful imagination, his polished technique, and his unique understanding of mass marketing. Parrish’s paintings often present pristine, arcadian landscapes enveloped in brilliant light, populated by youthful figures that seem to inhabit a rarefied, timeless world.

This exhibition features over 80 works of superlative design and sumptuous beauty, assembled from diverse collections. It includes the artist’s signature paintings such as Daybreak (1922), photography studies, celebrated book illustrations, and stunning original murals such as those commissioned by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney for the studio of her New York mansion, including the rarely exhibited 18 ½ foot North Wall mural. Supplemental objects include Parrish’s own props, photographs, and set models used to stage the scenery for his fantastic work, lending insight into his working methods.

Maxfield Parrish: Master of Make Believe was organized by The Trust for Museum Exhibitions in Washington, D.C., with the assistance of Ms. Alma Gilbert, director of the Cornish Colony Museum and a connoisseur of Parrish’s work. The exhibition is accompanied by a fully-illustrated catalogue.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Exhibitions

Now on view
2005 / 2006 / 2007