Norman Rockwell Art

Norman Rockwell was a painter and Illustrator born in New York in 1894. He was very well-known for creating more than 300 covers for The Saturday Evening Post depicting the American culture of everyday life. He also created covers for the Boy Scouts of America publication Boy’s Life (now Scout Life), and other numerous illustrations producing more than 4000 original pieces. Rockwell has had a lasting effect on US society beyond any singular work, with his paintings seen as indelible images that went on to inspire American directors such as George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and particularly Robert Zemeckis, whose 1994 film Forrest Gump recreates several of Rockwell’s paintings as scenes throughout the film. ^[artnet.com]

In 1973, 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 at Stockbridge. The trust now forms the core of the Museum’s permanent collections. In 1976, in failing health, Rockwell became concerned about the future of his studio. He arranged to have his studio and its contents added to the trust. In 1977, Rockwell received the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He died peacefully at his home in Stockbridge on November 8, 1978, at the age of 84.

In 2008, Rockwell was named the official state artist of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, thanks to a dedicated effort from students in Berkshire County, where Rockwell lived for the last 25 years of his life.^[nrm.org]