Del parson biography of mahatma

Del Parson

American painter

Del Parson

Born

Ogden, Utah

NationalityAmerican
Notable workChrist in Red Robe ()

Delwin Oliver "Del" Parson (born ) is an American painter who is well known for his Latter-day Saint-themed paintings.[1] His painting of Jesus, "Christ in Red Robe,"[2] is recognizable from its wide use by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[3][4]

Biography

Parson was born in Ogden, Utah and grew up in Rexburg, Idaho, where his father was an art professor at Ricks College.[5] He is one of nine children, three of whom became professional artists.[6]

Parson attended Ricks College and later Brigham Young University (BYU), where he received a B.A. in Life Sciences[6] in and a Master of Fine Arts in drawing and painting in [1] Parson was a gallery and portrait artist[5] before becoming a professor of art at Dixie College in [1] There he was awarded the Teaching Excellence Award from the Utah College Council in [7]

After the death of his wife, Joycel, and oldest daughter in a car accident, Parson felt inspired to begin painting primarily religious subjects.[6]

In , he was commissioned by the LDS Church to paint "Christ in Red Robe," his first portrait of Jesus, which has since been used in many church materials.[3] This portrait is the subject of popular Mormon folklore, with claims that Parson produced the work under the direction of church general authorities, who suggested how to make it more accurate, until it was deemed the closest resemblance of Jesus Christ.[6][8][9][10] Parson denies this, stating the work's commission and revisions were according to the needs of the church curriculum department.[4]

In April , the biographical film "Del Parson: Portraits of Love" premiered on BYUtv.

Parson lives in Cedar City, Utah[1] with his wife, Lynette, and has six children.

Artistic work

Parson is a traditional realist artist and creates mostly Latter-day Saint art, but also works on other themes, such as landscapes. The LDS Church has commissioned Parson to paint over works,[3] many of which are of Jesus Christ. One painting in particular, of the resurrected Christ exiting the tomb, is found in many the church's meetinghouses and homes of its members.[citation needed]

Parson has received regional and national awards for his work. His work has been displayed at the Allied Artists of America, National Academy of Design, Knickerbocker Artist, American Artists Professional League, the Amarillo Rotary Show,[5] the Springville Museum of Art,[1] the Morrison-Knudsen corporate headquarters, the Church History Museum, and the National Center for Constitutional Studies.[7] His work has been the sole subject of exhibits at Dixie State University, BYU, BYU Idaho, the Las Vegas Art Museum, and the James M. Haney Art Gallery in Amarillo, Texas.[1]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ abcdef"Del Parson". Utah Artists Project. University of Utah. Archived from the original on Retrieved
  2. ^The name "Christ in Red Robe" is not to be confused with Minerva Teichert's "Christ in a Red Robe" (). ("Christ in a Red Robe". . Retrieved ) Parson's painting is called "Christ in Red Robe" by Deseret Book, a publisher of LDS Church materials. ("Del Parson". . Deseret Book. Archived from the original on Retrieved ) It has also been referred to as "The Lord Jesus Christ", at Parson's online gallery. ("He is Risen". Del Parson Studio. Retrieved ) It is also called "Jesus the Christ". ("Jesus the Christ". LDS Media Library. Retrieved )
  3. ^ abcLarson, Lisa (). "St. George artist inspired to paint Christ". St. George Magazine. Archived from the original on Retrieved
  4. ^ ab"LDS Hoaxes and Myths". Scholarly & Historical Information Exchange for Latter-Day Saints. Retrieved
  5. ^ abc"About the Artist". Del Parson Studio. Retrieved
  6. ^ abcdJackson, Dave (April ). "The Artist: Del Parson"(PDF). Desert Saints Magazine. 5 (4). Las Vegas, Nevada: Ellis Ink, Inc.: 12– Archived from the original(PDF) on Retrieved
  7. ^ ab"Del Parson". Art Courses @ Dixie State College. Dixie State College of Utah. Archived from the original on Retrieved
  8. ^"ID#: ". Hour Board. BYU NewsNet. April 13, Archived from the original on Retrieved
  9. ^"ID#: ". Hour Board. BYU NewsNet. October 6, Retrieved [permanent dead link&#;]
  10. ^"ID#: ". Hour Board. BYU NewsNet. July 21, Archived from the original on Retrieved

External links