Born on February 3, 1894, Norman Rockwell grew into one of the 20th century's most enduring and beloved artists. His paintings call to mind a sense of nostalgia, as this excerpt from a PBS biography of the artist affirms:
"'I paint life as I would like it to be,' Rockwell once said. Mythical, idealistic, innocent, his paintings evoke a longing for a time and place that existed only in the rarefied realm of his rich imagination and in the hopes and aspirations of the nation. According to filmaker Steven Spielberg, 'Rockwell painted the American dream - better than anyone.'"
Here is some interesting trivia, in honor of this American icon's birthday:
*Rockwell's first commission was for four Christmas cards, which he received before he turned sixteen.
*He painted 322 covers for The Saturday Evening Post.
*Rockwell, in collaboration with his son Thomas, published an autobiography, My Adventures as an Illustrator, in 1960.
*He was hired as art director of Boys' Life, the official publication of the Boy Scouts of America, while still in his teens.
*Rockwell received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor, in 1977.
*He is the official state artist of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
All information found on the Norman Rockwell Museum's website and the "About Norman Rockwell" section of PBS.org.
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