Paper

Student Artwork Guide

Maxfield Parrish

Kenyon Cox, 1905

Name Class Date
Kenyon Cox, Maxfield Parrish (1905). Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Kenyon Cox topimpressionists.com/en/artists/kenyon-cox/
Artist’s dates
1856 – 1919
Painted
1905
Movement
Contemporary Realism Living artists painting the real world with traditional skill, often from photographs as well as from life.

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Kenyon Cox died in 1919; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1989.

Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

Maxfield Parrish — Kenyon Cox Part 1 · The artwork

In context

Maxfield Parrish — Kenyon Cox

When was this painted?

  1. 1850
  2. 1860
  3. 1870
  4. 1880
  5. 1890
  6. 1900
  7. 1910

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 63 at death.

Painted when the artist was 49. The artist lived to 63. 36 of the 66 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Kenyon Cox (1856–1919) ▲ this work, 1905 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1888 Main working years: 1888–1910 Late works: from 1910

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/kenyon-cox-maxfield-parrish-AQRBUA-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Clay #c67b57

    Catalogued palette

    • #C67B57
    • #592824
    • #E0B38A
    • #773D32

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Dark The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Clay
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Balanced How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Unified Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Clear Color Presence How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Kenyon Cox over the last twelve months — 3 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 85.7%
    2. 2 United States of America 8.6%
    3. 3 Singapore 5.7%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Kenyon Cox

    1. 1 After Boltraffio, Sacra Conversazione, 1882 7.7%
    2. 2 Study for Mosaic, Wisconsin State Capitol,, 1912 5.1%
    3. 3 Study for Christ, 1905 5.1%
    4. 4 Study for Mosaic, Wisconsin State Capital, Justice, 1913 5.1%
    5. 5 Head of the Queen of Egypt, 1888 5.1%
    6. 6 The Fall, 1892 5.1%
    7. 7 (Untitled) (Greco Roman Discus Thrower), 1873 5.1%
    8. 8 (Iowa State Capitol Rotunda) (Hunting, study for panel), 1905 5.1%
    9. 9 Study for Mural for Appellate Court Building, New York Statute Law , Helmet for Figure of Force, 1899 2.6%
    10. 10 Study for Mosaic, Wisconsin State Capitol,, 1912 2.6%
    11. 11 Nude Study for Mosaic, Wisconsin State Capitol,, 1912 2.6%
    12. 12 Nude Study for Mosaic, Wisconsin State Capitol,, 1912 2.6%
    13. 13 Sketch for the Mural at Oberlin College, The Spirit of Self Sacrificing Love, 1914 2.6%
    14. 14 Study for Science Instructing Industry, 1898 2.6%
    15. 15 After Titian's Madonna of the Rabbit, 1882 2.6%
    16. 16 Sketch for Mosaic, Wisconsin State Capital, Justice, 1912 2.6%
    17. 17 An Eclogue, 1890 2.6%
    18. 18 Study for mosaic in the Wisconsin State Capital Government and Liberty, 1912 2.6%
    19. 19 Book of Pictures, 1917 2.6%
    20. 24 Maxfield Parrish, 1905 this painting 2.6%

    Together these works take 74.6% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 67 works by this artist, of which 30 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 24 of them, with 2.6% of that attention. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

    Maxfield Parrish — Kenyon Cox Part 2 · In context

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Kenyon Cox

    Kenyon Cox: Life and Legacy

    Early Life and Education

    Born: October 27, 1856, in Warren, Ohio.

    Parents: Jacob Dolson Cox and Helen Finney Cox.

    Kenyon Cox initially studied at the Art Academy of Cincinnati (formerly the McMicken School of Art). However, he quickly recognized the limited artistic opportunities available in the city.

    Following a visit to the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, he decided to pursue further education at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, hoping it would lead to studies in Europe.

    Parisian Training and Influences

    In 1877, Cox moved to Paris, joining a wave of American artists seeking artistic inspiration. He believed Paris was experiencing a “second renaissance” in art.

    Influential Teachers: Carolus-Duran, Jean-Léon Gérôme, and Alexandre Cabanel at the École des Beaux-Arts.

    He initially studied under Carolus-Duran but became frustrated with what he perceived as a “vulgarity” in Duran’s style.

    Travels throughout France and Italy exposed him to the works of Renaissance masters, profoundly shaping his artistic vision.

    Career in New York and Artistic Style

    In 1882, Cox returned to New York City, where he established himself as a painter and illustrator.

    Illustration Work: He became well-known for his magazine illustrations, which reached a wider audience than his paintings.

    Art Criticism: Cox also wrote unsigned art criticisms for the New York Evening Post, supplementing his income.

    His artistic style leaned towards realism, with a focus on landscapes, portraits, and genre studies. He was known for idealized nudes and traditional treatments of classical themes.

    Teaching and Institutional Involvement

    Art Students League of New York: Cox became a highly influential instructor at the Art Students League, shaping generations of artists. He designed the League’s logo featuring the motto “Nulla Dies Sine Linea” (No Day Without a Line).

    Elected an Associate Academician of the National Academy of Design in 1900 and a full Academician in 1903.

    Founding Member: He was one of the founders and secretary of the National Free Arts League.

    Leadership Roles: Served as president of the National Society of Mural Painters from 1915 to 1919, and held memberships in various prestigious art organizations.

    Major Achievements and Historical Significance

    Cox’s work represented a commitment to classical ideals at a time when modern art movements were emerging. He advocated for careful drawing, modulated color, and the use of allegory and symbolism.

    His writings, such as “Two Ways of Painting,” articulated his views on figurative art versus abstract or representational styles.

    Legacy: Though not a radical innovator, Kenyon Cox played a crucial role in maintaining traditional artistic standards and educating aspiring artists. His influence extended through his teaching and his contributions to the American art establishment.

    Death: March 17, 1919.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Maxfield Parrish

    topimpressionists.com/en/art/download/kenyon-cox-maxfield-parrish-AQRBUA-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Cox, Kenyon. Maxfield Parrish. 1905, https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/kenyon-cox-maxfield-parrish-AQRBUA-en/
    APA
    Cox, Kenyon (1905). Maxfield Parrish [Painting]. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/kenyon-cox-maxfield-parrish-AQRBUA-en/
    Chicago
    Kenyon Cox. Maxfield Parrish. 1905. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/kenyon-cox-maxfield-parrish-AQRBUA-en/
    Harvard
    Cox, Kenyon (1905) Maxfield Parrish. Available at: https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/kenyon-cox-maxfield-parrish-AQRBUA-en/

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

    Maxfield Parrish — Kenyon Cox Part 3 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    Maxfield Parrish — Kenyon Cox

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. How many faces can you find? ____ (our catalogue counts 1 — do you agree?)
    4. Our catalogue files this work under: portrait, male figure, formal. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    5. Look back at Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1908), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

    Maxfield Parrish — Kenyon Cox Part 4 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    What are the author and date of "Maxfield Parrish"?

    The author of "Maxfield Parrish" is Kenyon Cox, and the work is dated 1905.

    When was "Maxfield Parrish" created, and to which movement does it belong?

    "Maxfield Parrish" was made in 1905, within the Contemporary Realism movement.

    Is "Maxfield Parrish" available as a fine art print?

    A print of "Maxfield Parrish" by Kenyon Cox can be ordered directly on its Fine Art Print page: a fine art print on cotton canvas or archival canvas paper.