Norman Rockwell Biography

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Norman Rockwell Biography

Norman Rockwell was February 3, 1894 in NYC

· At age 14 left high school to study art at the National Academy of Art.

· At 16 Rockwell was commissioned to paint 4 Christmas cards.

· 1911 Rockwell got his first gig illustrating children’s books.

· The job led him to other assignments including art editor for Boys Life Magazine.

· Rockwell studied with Thomas Fogarty this is where Rockwell learned the technical skills he relied on through out his career.

· 1916 at 22 Rockwell painted his 1st cover for the Saturday Evening Post.

· Over the next 47 yrs 321 Rockwell covers would appear on the Post.

· Rock well was married a total of 3 times and had 3 sons.

· Rockwell moved to Vermont in 1939 this is where Rockwell’s work began, more consistent, to reflect small-town America.

· In 1943 inspired by FDR’s address to Congress, Rockwell painted 4 Freedom paintings. Contemporary writers reproduced them in 4 consecutive issues of the post with essays.

· Rockwell’s Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Worship, Freedom to want and Freedom of Fear proved to be enormously popular.

· The paintings toured the US and through sales of war bonds raised $130 million for war efforts.

· 1953 Rockwell established a trust to preserve his artistic legacy by placing his works in the custodianship of the “Old Corner House Stockbridge Historical Society.” Later to become Norman Rockwell museum of Stockbridge.

· In 1977 Rockwell received the nations highest civilian honor, The Presidential Medal of Freedom, for his vivid affectionate portraits of our country.

· Rockwell died November 8, 1978 at age 84.







Norman Rockwell prints have been reproduced more often than, Michael Angelo, Picasso and Rembrandt combined....