Norman Rockwell (American, 1894-1978). Men of Tomorrow, 1948. Oil on canvas. 37 x 29 inches (94.0 x ...

Description

Norman Rockwell (American, 1894-1978)
Men of Tomorrow, 1948
Oil on canvas
37 x 29 inches (94.0 x 73.7 cm)
Signed lower center: Norman Rockwell

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

EXHIBITED:
National Scouting Museum, Murray, Kentucky, n.d.

LITERATURE:
Boy Scouts of America Calendar, Brown & Bigelow Co., Saint Paul, Minnesota, 1948, illustrated;
Boys' Life Magazine, The Boy Scouts of America, February 1948, cover, illustrated;
W. Hillcourt, Norman Rockwell's World of Scouting, New York, 1977, p. 131, illustrated;
M. Moline, Norman Rockwell Encyclopedia, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1979, pp. 224-25, fig. 8-29, illustrated;
L.N. Moffatt, Norman Rockwell: A Definitive Catalogue, Vol. I, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, 1986, pp. 278-79, no. A68, illustrated;
J. Csatari, Norman Rockwell's Boy Scouts of America, New York, 2009, p. 52-3, illustrated.

In Men of Tomorrow, Norman Rockwell encapsulates the ideals of community, leadership, and teamwork that lie at the heart of the Boy Scouts of America. Painted with Rockwell's signature blend of crisp precision and narrative warmth, the composition celebrates both the vigor of youth and the timeless values of mentorship and care that the organization sought to inspire.

A troop of older scouts advance along a wooded path, en route to a nearby lake where they will spend their day. At the center of the composition, one scout deftly balances a green canoe above his head, while his companions assist by carrying the oars-and, notably, the central scout's hat. Their crisp, matching uniforms harmonize with the warm amber and brown hues of the surrounding forest, while the vivid red of their neckerchiefs provides a striking complement to the natural palette. The group's meticulously coordinated attire-down to their identical flashlights, brown shoes, and neatly rolled socks-signifies their collective unity and shared purpose. The scene is framed by the encroaching branches of a nearby pine, set behind a young cub scout in the foreground who holds a toy canoe and watches intently, perhaps envisioning himself one day joining the troop's procession. Through this juxtaposition of youth and maturity, Rockwell evokes the continuity of tradition and the passing of knowledge from one generation to the next.

The present work also attests to Rockwell's unyielding commitment to his craft. Archival photographs in the Norman Rockwell Museum's digital collection show his models posing in the artist's studio with a full-sized canoe-demonstrating the extraordinary lengths to which Rockwell went to achieve realism in his compositions. Ultimately, Men of Tomorrow embodies the spirit of service, leadership, and camaraderie that defined the Boy Scouts of America and resonated deeply within Rockwell's broader vision of American identity.


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

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