Norman Rockwell
 

I just read the nice article in the October 13 issue of Smithsonian magazine. It portrays Rockwell as a person who was modest as you'd expect but also one who suffered from anxiety and does not appear to have been very happy. Married three times, divorced, widowed once each. Three children he was not particularly close to, apparently.

I have always been a big fan of his slightly whimsical realistic style. One of his most famous pictures, the one of the little Black girl going to school really touches.

He actually resigned from painting for the post because they wanted to direct his art. I was a little surprised by this but his work definitely has messages in it which are the normal fare of an artist and it is natural he would have integrity and want to control his messages.

He did a lot of famous portraits including one each of Kennedy and Nixon when they were running against each other. He worked on them side by side and according to his son took meticulous care to portray them both without any distortion, though his son said he remarked of Nixon "The trouble with Nixon is if you make him look too nice he no longer looks like Nixon".;)

I might have to look for a signed print of his work to hang. I don't think I can afford any original of his no matter how small.

I've got a set of reproduction WW2 posters he did - you know freedom from want etc...

Tom, if you ever get near the Stockbridge, MA area be sure to visit the Norman Rockwell Museum. There is another one in VT but the MA one has an extensive collection. You can browse part of the collection through that link (including that little girl being escorted to school by the marshalls).

I'm sure this surprises no one, I'm no art aficionado. :eek: However I'm a big fan of Rockwell for the same reasons you stated.

Thanks for the link Swamp!

Was at the one in Stockbridge a few years ago. I usually wait in the car while me old lady does the culture ****e and I have a nap.
But being old enough to remember those Post magazine covers I joined her and spent over 2 hours in there.
Amazed at the size of some of the original painting hung on the walls.
One large wall just devoted to every magazine cover published.

The little girl and Marshalls cover art.
http://collections.nrm.org/images/di...rm.1975.01.jpg

I laughed out-loud in a room full of people. Well done! ;)

Its not my line, its Rockwell!;)