Artist, Illustrator. Born Frederick Parrish in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was the son of noted etcher and landscape painter Stephen Parrish and Elizabeth Bancroft. He later adopted his maternal grandmother's maiden name as his christian name. His childhood was privileged and he received an excellent education. His father exposed him to the European art museums and to the work of the Pre-Raphaelites. Lord Frederic Leighton's life and work would become a major influence on young Parrish. Architecture was his first area of study, but he dropped out of Haverford College in order to study painting full time. Soon after, he completed his first major work, "Moonrise." He enrolled at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art where he became interested in illustration, which was to become his first claim to fame. At the age of 25 he was commissioned to do his first cover for Harper's Bazaar, and in 1897 he was inducted into the Society of American Artists. In the years to come, Parrish would become nationally famous for his commercial illustrations for such companies as Edison Mazda, Jello, and Fiske Tires, and for his book illustrations. During this time he was also painting, and his 1922 work "Daybreak" was an immediate and staggering success. His ingenious use of cobalt blue earned that color the name Parrish blue, which is still used today. It is said that during the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, hardly a home in America did not have a Parrish print on the wall. He continued painting until he was around 90, and he died at his estate, The Oaks, at the age of 96. His most famous works include "Daybreak," "Dinky Bird," and "Ecstasy."
Artist, Illustrator. Born Frederick Parrish in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was the son of noted etcher and landscape painter Stephen Parrish and Elizabeth Bancroft. He later adopted his maternal grandmother's maiden name as his christian name. His childhood was privileged and he received an excellent education. His father exposed him to the European art museums and to the work of the Pre-Raphaelites. Lord Frederic Leighton's life and work would become a major influence on young Parrish. Architecture was his first area of study, but he dropped out of Haverford College in order to study painting full time. Soon after, he completed his first major work, "Moonrise." He enrolled at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art where he became interested in illustration, which was to become his first claim to fame. At the age of 25 he was commissioned to do his first cover for Harper's Bazaar, and in 1897 he was inducted into the Society of American Artists. In the years to come, Parrish would become nationally famous for his commercial illustrations for such companies as Edison Mazda, Jello, and Fiske Tires, and for his book illustrations. During this time he was also painting, and his 1922 work "Daybreak" was an immediate and staggering success. His ingenious use of cobalt blue earned that color the name Parrish blue, which is still used today. It is said that during the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, hardly a home in America did not have a Parrish print on the wall. He continued painting until he was around 90, and he died at his estate, The Oaks, at the age of 96. His most famous works include "Daybreak," "Dinky Bird," and "Ecstasy."
Bio by: Kristen Conrad
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