Alma Gilbert

Now to begin, I adore Maxfield Parrish. I know the art intelligentsia will say I'm common. They'll place him in the same pigeon hole as Norman Rockwell, who by the way I cannot stand. Just because he doesn't fling paint at a canvas, or draw sqiggly line, or make screen prints of soup cans. F-'em. Anyway, This book is just lovely as an object in itself, not just as something to read. It is something to look at. My wife bought it for me and I used to read the nursery rhymes and stories to my show more kids. I still cherish it. I had no problem showing it to my children and calling the illustrations "art." show less

Lovely pics (4 stars – I would have made some different nominations to 'masterwork' status), self-indulgent text (2 stars). Not much help if you want to learn something about Parrish's style.

Ms Gilbert is a dealer in Parrish's work. She credits herself for the resurgence in critical interest in Parrish's work from the 1970s, indeed seems to fancy herself a, if not the, preëminent Parrish critic (her choice of subtitle is indicative in this respect). She began and directed the short-lived show more Parrish museum at Parrish's former home. When the text isn't about her dealings with Parrish's artworks, it's about Parrish's life, with a sharp hagiographical bent. show less

I so enjoy examining the models and photos and comparing them to the paintings. It adds to the charms of Parrish somehow.

A fascinating exploration of model to painting. And a heartbreaking real life story too.