Parrish, Maxfield “The King of the Black Isles”

Maxfield Parrish.  “The King of the Black Isles.” 

From The Arabian Nights Entertainments.  New York: P. F. Collier & Son, 1906.  Deluxe Edition.  11 x 8 ¾.  Art print (off set color lithograph).  Margins trimmed to image as issued.  With original publisher’s label.  Ref: Coy Ludwig, Maxfield Parrish, 1973. 

Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966), was born in Philadelphia and educated at Haverford College and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.  Parrish lived in New Hampshire for most of his adult life, becoming one of the best-known professional artists during the early years of the 20^th century. The artist produced many illustrations for children’s books and popular periodicals, as well as advertising, poster art, and landscapes.  His work is characterized by luminous color (in particular the famous Parrish blue), dramatically heightened landscapes, and attractively androgynous and/or humorous human figures.  Maxfield’s father, Stephen Parrish (1846-1938), also born in Philadelphia, was a very well known and respected painter and etcher of his day.