Description:

Parrish Maxfield

Maxfield Parrish TLS, opines on both George Washington, and society "I dare say if we are drifting towards lower ideals or a spiritual awakening"

 

Bi-fold TLS on personal letterhead of Maxfield Parrish, Windsor, Vermont, 5.25" x 6.75". Typed on three pages with the last page blank. Dated "September 23, 1933", and signed in Parrish's stunning calligraphy-like full signature "Maxfield Parrish" on page three. Two punch holes to the left margin, small stain along lower front edge, else near fine.

 

Maxfield's letter, although written in 1933, may have just as well been written today, as it touches upon the very same societal concerns of good versus evil, fake news, crime being exploited in the media thus making better news than virtue, and societal concerns that humanity is going to the devil. Yet for Parrish's opining, he first opens his letter  saying he rarely goes near a city "if I can help it, and consequently see very few people. I am in a poor position to judge whether we are drifting towards lower ideals or towards a spiritual awakening." Here was are nearly 85 years later and the words of Maxfield Parrish resonate the same concerns as reflected by today's society.

 

This wonderful, highly reflective letter is shown in part below:

 

"… I dare day ideals and conduct are just "different" from one generation to another … I would hardly dare to risk an opinion … Certainly this is a day in which everything is exploited, and as crime is conceded to make better news than virtue, we have it featured to an extent which makes one well nigh believe it is a national characteristic … You rarely hear of the best people of the world. In these days the sinners have the front page, and you soon fall into the belief that they are in the majority. In every age there were always people who claimed humanity was going to the devil … some of George Washington's comments on the financial situation of his day apply word for word to our own troubles now … "

 

Parrish was known as a Hollywood-handsome man who had stashed his incredible talented self away in the remote hills and once there, created a make-believe world of his own and never left. Even in this letter he fully acknowledges his preference to not see people. Yet his art stunned, and reveled in a magical world. His idealized images with figures of feminine pulchritude adorned in classical gowns with backgrounds of electric violets, radiant reds and rich glowing earth tone pigments, created an idyllic world indeed. Other images had scenes embellished with billowing clouds in a fairy tale ambience of maidens and knights lying under porticoes and these were equally harmonic, idealistic, and beloved. Perhaps it was his very hermit like existence which allowed his idealistic, and harmonious side to flourish.

 

An wonderful letter depicting the incredible nature of this artist.


WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!
Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000