NORMAN ROCKWELL (American 1894-1978). Freedom of the Press: Poor Richard's Almanac, c.1930 . Oil on canvas 32in. x 27in.. In... (Total: 2 items Item)

Description

NORMAN ROCKWELL (American 1894-1978)
Freedom of the Press: Poor Richard's Almanac, c.1930
Oil on canvas 32in. x 27in.
Inscribed lower right (not contemporaneously): Norman Rockwell
Signed on canvas fragment attached on stretcher bar: Norman Rockwell
Photocopy of letter from Norman Rockwell to Mr. Yotnakparian dated March 6, 1973 accompanies this work.
Viewed and accepted by Laurie Moffat, Director of the Rockwell Museum.
Provenance: the collection of Mr. Yotnakparian, c. 1973; Roughton Galleries, Dallas, Texas

Freedom of the Press (also known as Poor Richards Almanac) may also have been intended as part of Rockwell's original Freedom series, however it was never used. The painting belonged to the same family for over 50 years. In an accompanying photocopy of a letter from Norman Rockwell to the owner, Rockwell wrote "I did the picture . . . when I lived in New Rochelle. I don't remember who posed for Ben Franklin, but I know the printer in back of him was one of my favorite models, Fred Hildebrandt."

Norman Rockwell is America's most beloved illustrator of the 20th century. Renowned for his idyllic images of daily life in small town America, Rockwell explained in his autobiography, "I paint life as I would like it to be." Rockwell was born in New York City into a family of humble circumstances. In 1903, his family moved to Mamaroneck, New York a suburban town in Westchester County where they resided in a succession of boarding houses. While still in high school, Rockwell decided to pursue a career as an illustrator, and in 1908, he commuted to New York City to study at the Chase School of Fine and Applied Art. At the age of 15, he quit high school and enrolled in the National Academy of Design. However, he found the Academy's curriculum was geared toward the fine arts, and Rockwell left after a year to study illustration at the Art Students League under George Bridgman and Thomas Fogarty.

The most comprehensive collection of his work can be found at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge.

Condition: original, unlined canvas on original stretchers, areas of inpaint in Franklin's arm, shoulder, and letter. Inpaint above 2nd man's head, lower right corner, and middle upper left edge. Signature on front fluoresces under blacklight, but the signature on back fragment does not fluoresce. It appears that several years ago the painting was trimmed to fit in a frame and the original signature is now affixed to the verso stretcher bar. The painting was later resigned lower right.

More information about NORMAN ROCKWELL. See also: Rockwell, Norman, Norman Rockwell, Rockwell, Norman Perceval Artist.

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