St. Valentine by Maxfield Parrish – Catholic Art Print

Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966) was one of America's most popular painters. For many decades he painted dreamy, romantic scenes for galleries and magazines. This charming painting of St. Valentine was done for the February 2, 1905 cover of Life Magazine. It makes a unique, old-fashioned Valentine gift. Parrish typically made his paintings with many layers of lacquer and paint. This made the colors pop and seemed to make the light sources shine of their own accord. But the paintings do not age well. (See example.) The lacquer turns yellow and the paintings get so they look like they are encased in amber. We are grateful to be the only ones in the world who as of this writing have pulled the yellow out and restored this Valentine to something very close to its original delightful colors. Of note, Parrish had made his own face that of Valentine's, another touch of whimsy. (source: nationalacademy.com)The historical St. Valentine was a Catholic priest who, at a time when the Roman emperor Cla