Jean Parrish (1911-2004)
Jean Parrish learned from her father, artist Maxfield Parrish, one of the most famous illustrators of the 20th century. She was the only Parrish child to pursue an artistic career, and her interests are evident in some of Maxfield’s early work. She posed in his famous Daybreak, and made thematic suggestions for some of his other famous works.
She lived a tumultuous life, spending her youth floating from school to school and eventually dropping out of college. For several years she was inactive and battled with alcoholism. However, with the continuing support of her father, she eventually settled permanently in the Southwest and had her most productive years in the 1960s, favoring mountain village scenes. She certainly denied her father’s artistic influence but is known to have emulated certain aspects of his style.
Information courtesy of Cowan’s Auctions October 2006