Maxfield Parrish

While vacationing in San Francisco, I was determined to find an elusive Maxfield Parrish painting on display “in a bar.” After some research, I found the Palace hotel had a little place called the Pied Piper bar. Lo and behold—named after the original painting!

“The Pied Piper has hung above the bar of the Palace Hotel since 1909 except for its brief stay (1989–1991) at the De Young Museum in San Francisco during the historic $150 million restoration of the hotel. The mural was reinstalled in the room adjacent to where it had hung for nearly eighty-three years. The old Pied Piper Room was renamed “Maxfield’s” and turned into a restaurant. The Pied Piper, in its new location at the Palace with its new cleaning and improved lighting, again shines resplendentfor all who come in pilgrimage to see this venerable San Francisco landmark.

We wonder if, indeed, bartenders still heed Mr. Parrish’s admonishment, written in a letter to Helen Hess: “When customers can no longer tell how many children they can count on the [Pied Piper] mural, send them home to their families. A guest drawing a glass is apt to note a child in the painting that resembles a little one at home and then and there cancel their wish for an additional glass.”

Maxfield Parrish: The Masterworks By Alma Gilbert-Smith

WOW, what a painting! If you are ever in the financial district in San Francisco, drop in and have a pint, you won’t regret it.

A little trivia: Parrish is depicted in the painting as the Pied Piper himself (his two sons are depicted as well.)