Joseph Csatari (American, 1929-2025). The New Spirit, 1977. Oil on canvas. 33 x 25 inches (83.8 x 63.5 cm). Signed lower...

Description

Joseph Csatari (American, 1929-2025)
The New Spirit, 1977
Oil on canvas
33 x 25 inches (83.8 x 63.5 cm)
Signed lower right: Joseph Csatari

Property from the BSA Settlement Trust, Sold for the Benefit of Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

LITERATURE:
J. Csatari, Norman Rockwell's Boy Scouts of America, New York, 2009, pp. 112-13, illustrated.

Norman Rockwell's relationship with the Boy Scouts of America spanned an extraordinary 64 years, beginning in 1912 and concluding in 1976. His final painting for BSA was The Spirit of '76, commemorating the nation's Bicentennial and marking the end of his long and influential tenure with the organization. Upon his retirement that same year, the BSA turned to artist Joseph Csatari to carry the torch, officially naming him the new Scout artist.

With big shoes to fill, Csatari honored Rockwell's legacy by reenvisioning his final work into a new painting titled The New Spirit starting a new era for the artist. This piece became the first of more than 36 official BSA calendar illustrations by Csatari, contributing to a body of over 150 Scout-themed artworks across several decades. In The New Spirit, Scouts from different programs work together to ring the Bell-an evocative symbol of the nation's founding in 1776. The scene celebrates youth involvement in civic duty, teamwork, joy, and inclusion. As one of Csatari's earliest official works for the BSA, the painting is a powerful statement of optimism, renewal, and the enduring spirit of Scouting for the future.


More information about Csatari, Joseph Artist.

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