Perkins Parker (1862-1942) American
Birthplace/Origin: Lowell, MA
Biography/Statement:
Parker S. Perkins was born in Lowell, MA on March 16, 1862 and died on Sunday, October 18,1942 at the age of 80. Perkins — a highly respected, self-taught marine painter of Rockport, MA— is remembered for his harbors, ships, and coastal scenes as well as interiors and kittens.
Although born in Lowell, Perkins spent most of his youth in Gardner, MA and is considered to be one of the city’s most successful citizens. He was never very famous or collected by New England museums and never achieved financial success, but because he painted for the sake of creating what he loved, he is one of America’s success stories.
Always dignified with a high sense of drama, Perkins was one of Cape Ann’s greatest and most admired marine painters. He lived on Gott Street in Rockport, MA and was, for many years, one of the seaports major attractions. Harrison Cady, famous illustrator and life-long friend of Perkins, asked him for his help painting a sixty foot long mural in Manhattan. Perkins obliged and then he returned to Cape Ann and the work he loved. Fame and financial success were never concerns of Perkins but what change of direction may have taken place if Perkins had put more thought into his career and remained in New York?
He exhibited with the Boston Art Club in 1895, 1891, 1894, and 1898. In the BAC exhibition of 1885, he listed his address as 70 West Newton Street in Boston, MA. Perkins also exhibited in New York and the Rockport Art Association.
Parker S. Perkins is represented in collections of the Whistler House Museum of Art in Lowell, MA; the Rockport Art Association in Rockport, MA and museums in Syracuse, Detroit, and Mexico City.