MAXFIELD PARRISH | Ivanhoe Playbill

The artist
Private collection, Cornish, New Hampshire (acquired from the above)
By descent to the present owner

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes, Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. Given the complexity of this work, the condition is very good. The board is healthy. The gilding is all original, with a few scratches. There are cracks or cut marks in all four corners, which may indicate that the work was originally intended to be framed with shaped corners. There are also two cracks in the upper center. It may have never been cleaned, and may possibly respond to careful light cleaning. The top half of the image is made of collaged pieces of card. The paint layer is stable. The surface is slightly distorted above and below the beaded belt on the right side and around the right foot of the standing figure on the right. The beads added to both figures are still well attached and healthy. The element below with the calligraphy is also in healthy condition, except for some rather crude retouches to some scratches in the center of the right side which do not interfere with the words. There may be some slight stains on the left side, again these do not interfere with the calligraphy. There is a restoration in the center of the bottom edge. The surface is less even here, but it seems that this can be successfully corrected in most areas. There are two small paper patches on the surface of the work in the upper right corner of the lower half that seem to be original, as they appear to be covered with an original coat of varnish. The work seems to be in very good condition overall, and it will be seen to be well preserved if properly restored.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Maxfield Parrish created the present work as a playbill to commemorate a performance of Ivanhoe, which took place in the home of its original owner in Cornish, New Hampshire. The Cornish Art Colony began in 1885 with the arrival of the sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Ensuing artists were attracted to the region's natural beauty and relative seclusion, as well as by the encouragement and intellectual stimulation offered by the town's residents. Along with a number of painters, writers, and sculptors, Parrish arrived in the Colony with his family in the 1890s. The present work, ornately crafted by the artist as a playbill for a local dramatic production of Ivanhoe, is a remarkable example of the Colonists interest in fostering the cultural life of the region.

First published in 1820, Ivanhoe is an adventure novel set in 12th-century England, and the most well-known and influential of Sir Walter Scott's works. The story has since been adapted to film, television, and the stage, and is often credited with the general resurgence of interest in the medieval period.