October 17, 2017. Norman Rockwell Country.

October 17, 2017.  Norman Rockwell Country.  Norman Rockwell was born in 1894 and painted America until his death in 1978.  He began to paint when he was a child because he wasn't good at sports.  While other boys were engaged in physical activity, Rockwell "drew and drew."  He excelled and was named as the art director for Boy's Life, the monthly publication of the Boy Scouts of America, at the age of 19.  In his nearly 70 productive years, he finished over 4400 works of publishable quality.  His art was featured on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post 323 times over  four decades.  The Saturday Evening Post was founded by Benjamin Franklin and was a highly influential weekly publication until the mid-20th Century. 

Norman Rockwell was not critically acclaimed during his lifetime.  However, he is considered one of America's most revered, talented and successful artists.  One of his paintings sold for 46 million dollars in 2013.  His WWII iconic painting of Rosie the Riveter sold for nearly 5 million in 2002.

Norman Rockwell lived in Arlington, VT, for 12 years in the 1940s and 1950s.  Arlington is about 40 miles south of here.  While there, he produced some of his best art.  He used his neighbors as subjects as he wove a story in nearly every painting.  His art nearly always told a unique American tale.  When the viewer looks at the painting he sees a moment in time which is the midpoint of the narrative.  The viewer intuitively knows the beginning and the end.

There is a Rockwell museum here, three miles from our condo.  There is another - called a Rockwell Exhibit - in Arlington.  We took in both today.  The first displays scores of original covers for various magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post and Boy's Life.  After more than an hour there, we drove to Arlington and viewed that exhibit.  The Exhibit focuses on the locals who were often Rockwell's subjects.  For example, Rosie was a 19-year old part-time telephone operator when Rockwell painted her.  He exaggerated the muscles in her arms and neck to convey the impression that her riveting job had made her into a physically powerful young woman.  She, like his other local subjects, was paid a standard fee of $5.00 to pose for Rockwell.

There is another museum in Stockbridge, MA, about two hours south of here.  Rockwell moved there from Arlington and that's where he finished his extraordinarily productive career.  We have talked about swinging through there on the way home.  We haven't decided yet.  Usually when we start toward home, we travel pretty directly and swiftly.  My guess is that the Stockbridge museum will have to wait for another trip.

I have included more than the normal number of pictures here.  Some are good and some not so good.  It was difficult to eliminate the glare from the overhead lighting and some of the pictures had to be shot from unusual angles.  But, they will give you a taste of Rockwell.  If you want more, you can find them online or in the book which is on our coffee table at home.

Tomorrow is our last day in New England.  I will finish the blog tomorrow night and we will start home.  Annie is in charge of planning our activities tomorrow.  As of now, she hasn't shared those plans with me.  That's okay.  I like surprises.

Goodnight.