Chesley Bonestell (American, 1888-1986) . Arrival on the Moon, Rocket to the Moon book cover and interior, 1961. Oil on ...

Description

Chesley Bonestell (American, 1888-1986)
Arrival on the Moon, Rocket to the Moon book cover and interior, 1961
Oil on board
18-1/2 x 16 inches (47.0 x 40.6 cm)
Signed lower left: Chesley Bonestell

Chesley Bonestell's 1961 Rocket to the Moon: Adventures in Nature and Science played a critical role in promoting the importance of the space race to the American public. The present work, Arrival on the Moon¸ was the cover of this iconic book as well as slide number 16 of this ambitious multimedia project. Rocket to the Moon was one of a few offerings the Columbia Record Club's Nature and Science Program Panorama that sought to bring scientific wonder into people's homes and classrooms. Rocket to the Moon, one of the most significant, appeared just as President Kennedy was officially calling for a lunar landing.

For the project, rocket designer Dr. Wernher von Braun worked closely with Bonestell to inform the accuracy of the artist's vivid paintings of massive rockets, astronauts in technically plausible suits, and the moon's cratered surface. America's Voice, the newscaster Walter Cronkite, provided commentary framing a moon landing as both scientifically achievable and culturally urgent. Pairing his audio with slides of Bonestell's work allowed viewers the immersive experience witnessing a journey into space firsthand. The final result not only captured the spirit of Cold War competition but also deepened public engagement with the idea of lunar travel, making the dream of reaching the moon feel more tangible than ever before. By bringing the planetarium into the classroom and home, Rocket to the Moon encouraged a generation of young curious minds into dreamers, enthusiasts, and scientists, and remains historically significant to this day.

This present work is accompanied by a complete 1961 copy of Rocket to the Moon with slides and record included.




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