Norman Rockwell The changing fall foliage was not missed in Norman Rockwell's artwork.  The autumn season was inspiring to this 20th Century American painter. Page Favorites:			Search for:

Ghostly Gourds Norman Rockwell 16x17 Fine ...	Autumn Stroll Norman Rockwell 22x26 Gicl...	Coin Toss Norman Rockwell 18x20 Gicl...
Back to School Norman Rockwell 22x26 Gicl...	Careful Aim Norman Rockwell 18x23 Fine ...	100th Year of Baseball Norman Rockwell 17x20 Gicl...
Home for Thanksgiving Norman Rockwell 25x26 Gicl...	Disastrous Daring Norman Rockwell 15x17 Fine ...	Big Decision Norman Rockwell 18x20 Fine ...

Norman Percevel Rockwell (February 3, 1894 – November 8, 1978)

Rockwell's early works were done for St. Nicholas Magazine, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) publication Boys' Life, and other juvenile publications.  During the First World War, he tried to enlist into the U.S. Navy but was refused entry because, at 6 feet tall and 140 pounds, he was eight pounds underweight. To compensate, he spent one night gorging himself on bananas, liquids and donuts, and weighed enough to enlist the next day. However, he was given the role of a military artist and did not see any action during his tour of duty.

Cramming Norman Rockwell 17x20 Gicl...	Fancy Footwork Norman Rockwell 18x20 Fine ...	Contentment Norman Rockwell 17x20 Gicl...
Moonlight Buggy Ride Norman Rockwell 22x26 Gicl...	Final Speech Norman Rockwell 14x20 Fine ...	Coal Season's Coming Norman Rockwell 18x20 Fine ...
Thanksgiving Day Blues Norman Rockwell 23x26 Gicl...	Pride of Parenthood Norman Rockwell 10x13 Pre-...	Pilgrimage Norman Rockwell 18x20 Fine ...

Rockwell moved to New Rochelle, New York at age 21 and shared a studio with the cartoonist Clyde Forsythe, who worked for The Saturday Evening Post. With Forsythe's help, he submitted his first successful cover painting to the Post in 1916. Rockwell was published eight times total on the Post cover within the first twelve months. Norman Rockwell published a total of 321 original covers for The Saturday Evening Post over 47 years.

Halloween Norman Rockwell 22x26 Gicl...	Sweet Memories Norman Rockwell 19x20 Pre-...	Willie Gillis in College Norman Rockwell 19x20 Gicl...

In 1939, the Rockwell family moved to Arlington, Vermont, which seemed to inspire him to paint scenes of everyday small town American life. Rockwell also was commissioned for several Christmas projects during his early years.

In 1943, during the Second World War, Rockwell painted the Four Freedoms series, which was completed in seven months and resulted in his losing 15 pounds. The series was inspired by a speech by Franklin D. Roosevelt, in which he described four principles for universal rights: Freedom from Want, Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Worship, and Freedom from Fear. The U.S. Treasury Department later promoted war bonds by exhibiting the originals in 16 cities. That same year a fire in his studio destroyed numerous original paintings, costumes, and props.

Later, in 1953, his wife Mary died unexpectedly, and Rockwell took time off from his work to grieve. It was during this break that he and his son Thomas produced his autobiography, My Adventures as an Illustrator, which was published in 1960. The Post printed excerpts from this book in eight consecutive issues, the first containing Rockwell's famous Triple Self-Portrait.

A custodianship of 574 of his original paintings and drawings was established with Rockwell's help near his home in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and the museum is still open today year round. For "vivid and affectionate portraits of our country," Rockwell received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977, the United States of America's highest civilian honor.  Norman Rockwell died November 8, 1978 of emphysema at age 84 in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

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