Classic Rockwell Masterpiece to be Offered by Heritage!

DALLAS, TEXAS: Heritage Galleries and Auctioneers (HGA) will offer the original oil painting, "Bernadette," by Norman Rockwell, created for the 1943 classic film, "The Song of Bernadette," in their upcoming Fine Arts auction, to be held November 17 & 18, 2005, in their Dallas, Texas headquarters.

"This painting, which is a stunning portrait of 24 year-old actress Jennifer Jones as Bernadette Soubirous, a French peasant girl who sees a vision of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes, is one of Norman Rockwell's best known and most beloved paintings," said Ed Jaster, Consignment Director for HGA.

In Arthur L. Guptill's Norman Rockwell, Illustrator, Rockwell himself says about this painting: "When the 20th Century-Fox people were promoting 'The Song of Bernadette,' they commissioned me to make this painting. They sent me photographs of Jennifer Jones, who played the lead, to work from. Nothing else I ever painted was reproduced in so many ways. In addition to its being run in magazines, newspapers, and on theater posters, I was told that it covered the entire wall of one eight-story building."

"The film was a sensation upon release," said Jaster, "and remains a classic to this day. Jones won a well-deserved Best Actress Oscar in 1943 for her work in this film, and, several years later, married David O. Selznick, who guided the remainder of her career until his death in 1965. Jones made only three more films following Selznick's death (the last of which was The Towering Inferno in 1974), and now dedicates her life to charitable and cultural causes."

"This painting, which has been in private hands since the release of the film, comes from the collection of William Perlberg, who served as producer on 'The Song of Bernadette,' said Jaster. "The exceptional beauty and quiet dignity of this piece, coupled with its impeccable provenance, makes this a rare opportunity for any Rockwell enthusiast."

This piece measures 53" x 28" and is in excellent condition. It carries a pre-auction estimate of $200,000 - $300,000.

For more information about Heritage's auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HeritageGalleries.com.

Prospective consignors and sellers of top-end illustration and fine art are invited to call Ed Jaster at 214-252-4288 to discuss their material. Or visit www.HeritageGalleries.com and click on "Sell Now". Or simply email Ed Jaster at EdJ@HeritageGalleries.com.

To order the next three sale catalogs, visit Heritage's website to pay by credit card, or send a check or money order payable to Heritage Galleries in the amount of $100 (a fraction of Heritage's actual cost-to-produce the catalogs) to: Nicole Jewell, c/o Heritage Galleries, 3500 Maple Avenue, 17th Floor, Dallas, TX 75219.