Stamp honors Eastman Theatre artist

Interlude, Maxfield Parrish

painting that has graced the Eastman Theatre since the building's opening soon will be on display for the world to see, thanks to the United States Postal Service.

Interlude, a work by the American artist Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966), is one of only 20 pieces of art reproduced for a new series of postage stamps paying tribute to America's most accomplished illustrators.

The "American Illustrators" stamp series--which also features reproductions of famous works by Norman Rockwell, James Montgomery Flagg, Rose O'Neill, and others--will be available February 1.

"We are thrilled that this remarkable work of art was chosen for this series," said James Undercofler, director and dean of the Eastman School of Music. "It's an honor to have one of Rochester's treasures be the sole work representing Parrish on stamps that will be distributed around the country."

Commissioned in 1922 by George Eastman himself, the seven-foot-high oil painting is considered by many to be one of Parrish's finest works. Also known as The Lute Players, it depicts three women on a patio, basking beneath spectacular blue skies and lush foliage.

The work--which quickly became a favorite of Eastman and of Rochester theater-goers--hung in the north stairway to the Grand Balcony of the Eastman Theatre from 1922 to 1994, when it was removed for restoration. The original was replaced with a photographic reproduction made by the Eastman Kodak Company and is now on permanent loan to the Memorial Art Gallery.

After the stamp series was unveiled in November, the U.S. Postal Service increased the postal rate for a first-class letter from 33 cents to 34 cents, effective January 7.

Maintained by University Public Relations
Please send your comments and suggestions to:
Public Relations.