Norman Rockwell Books
Norman Rockwell is among the most revered painters of the 20th century. His figurative and portrait paintings reflect an innocent and idyllic America described by the artist as "life as I would like it to be." For nearly 50 years, he illustrated the covers of The Saturday Evening Post in a rich and emotive style that gave distinctive personalities to his imagined characters. In total, Norman Rockwell created more than 4,000 works of art over the course of his life.
Rockwell was born in 1894 in New York City. His artistic aspirations took shape early on, and when he was 14 years old, he took classes at the New York School of the Art, which is now the Parsons School of Design. Later, he attended the Art Students League of New York, where he studied under influential painters Thomas Fogarty and George Bridgman. While still a teen, Rockwell became art director of the Boy Scouts of America publication Boys' Life.
At 21, Rockwell moved to New Rochelle, New York, and opened a studio with fellow illustrator Victor Clyde Forsythe. He created illustrations for magazines like Literary Digest and Life before his first cover for The Saturday Evening Post was published when he was 22. In 1939, after moving to Arlington, Vermont, Rockwell pivoted to making the nostalgic paintings of small-town and iconic America for which he is best known — scenes of Christmas dinner, children playing in the street and national treasures like Ruby Bridges and Rosie the Riveter.
In 1943, a speech previously given by President Franklin Roosevelt inspired Rockwell to create his most famous series, “The Four Freedoms,” which was exhibited all over the United States. The series included four pieces entitled Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Worship, Freedom from Want and Freedom from Fear.
Rockwell moved with his family to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, in 1953, where he spent the rest of his life. My Adventures as an Illustrator — the autobiography Rockwell wrote with the help of his son, Thomas — was published in 1960. In 1963, Rockwell ceased working with The Saturday Evening Post and started drawing illustrations for Look magazine.
The world’s largest collection of original Rockwell art can be found at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge. The artist was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977, and he passed away peacefully in his home the following year.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of original Norman Rockwell paintings, prints, drawings and other works.
Mid-20th Century American Classical Norman Rockwell Books
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Late 20th Century American Folk Art Norman Rockwell Books
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20th Century Norman Rockwell Books
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21st Century and Contemporary Norman Rockwell Books
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21st Century and Contemporary Norman Rockwell Books
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21st Century and Contemporary European Norman Rockwell Books
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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Norman Rockwell Books
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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Norman Rockwell Books
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1990s Italian Norman Rockwell Books
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21st Century and Contemporary European Norman Rockwell Books
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Early 1900s French French Provincial Antique Norman Rockwell Books
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1970s American Vintage Norman Rockwell Books
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20th Century Norman Rockwell Books
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20th Century Norman Rockwell Books
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Norman Rockwell books for sale on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Norman Rockwell was renowned for painting covers for the Saturday Evening Post magazine. He painted 321 covers total in a collaboration spanning almost five decades. Shop an array of authentic Norman Rockwell works from top sellers around the world on 1stiDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Norman Rockwell painted his first cover for The Saturday Evening Post in 1916. Over the next 46 years, he would go on to paint 300 covers for the magazine. You’ll find a variety of Norman Rockwell art pieces from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.