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Norman Rockwell Biography
1938 Through 1953

Family Man and Middle Age: 1939 through 1953


Norman Rockwell Biography (continued): In 1938, the Rockwell family traveled to England. During this trip, Rockwell met some famous and talented British illustrators, including Arthur Rackham, George Belcher and Edmund Dulac.

In 1939, Rockwell moved his family to Arlington, Vermont. The trip to rural England has rekindled childhood memories of his childhood trips to the country. The couple decided to look for a farm in the country. Chance led them to Arlington. And Arlington fit them to a tee. The Rockwells would call Arlington home for over thirteen years.

1943 was marked by some of Rockwell's greatest and most loved paintings. In 1943, the famous Four Freedoms paintings were conceived and painted. During the height of World War II, Rockwell became inspired by Franklin Roosevelt's Four Freedoms speech. Taking the four freedoms mentioned in the speech as his cue, Rockwell painted Freedom From Want, Freedom to Worship, Freedom From Fear and Freedom of Speech. The paintings and accompanying articles from some of the best writers of the time were published in consecutive issues of The Saturday Evening Post. The first article and illustration were published on February 20, 1943.
Photograph of Norman Rockwell at his drawing board

Norman Rockwell at his drawing board
Photo available at Art.com

Later that year, tragedy struck. A fire burned his studio to the ground. Rockwell lost his extensive costumes and props collection. In addition, an unknown number of paintings were lost to the fire.

In 1946, Norman Rockwell: Illustrator by Arthur L. Guptill was published.

In 1949, Rockwell started a new calendar series for calendar publisher, Brown & Bigelow. The Four Seasons calendars were published for seventeen straight years.

1953 saw the Rockwell family moving to Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Stockbridge would become Rockwell's permanent home. The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass would also become the permanent home for many of Norman Rockwell's original paintings, his personal belongings and his art collection.


A life as big and full as Rockwell's can't be told on only one page.

Norman Rockwell Biography, page one (1894-1917)...

Norman Rockwell Biography, page two (1918-1936)...

Norman Rockwell Biography, page three (1938-1953)...

Norman Rocwell Biography, page four (1953-1978)...




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Norman Rockwell Quotes:


I'll never have enough time to paint all the pictures I'd like to.

No man with a conscience can just bat out illustrations. He's got to put all his talent and feeling into them!

Some people have been kind enough to call me a fine artist. I've always called myself an illustrator. I'm not sure what the difference is. All I know is that whatever type of work I do, I try to give it my very best. Art has been my life.

Right from the beginning, I always strived to capture everything I saw as completely as possible.

The secret to so many artists living so long is that every painting is a new adventure. So, you see, they're always looking ahead to something new and exciting. The secret is not to look back.

I can take a lot of pats on the back. I love it when I get admiring letters from people. And, of course, I'd love it if the critics would notice me, too.

You must first spend some time getting your model to relax. Then you'll get a natural expression.

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Rockwell Favorites

Doctor and the Doll
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Doctor and the Doll
Santa at His Desk
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Santa at His Desk
Before the Shot
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Before the Shot
Game Called Because of Rain
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Game Called Because of Rain (Three Umpires)
Freedom of Speech
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Freedom of Speech
Freedom from Want
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Freedom from Want
No Swimming
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No Swimming
The Runaway
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The Runaway
Girl at the Mirror
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Girl at the Mirror
Tattoo Artist
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Tattoo Artist
Puppy Love
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Puppy Love
(Little Spooners)

Norman Rockwell Christmas and Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving Galleries are open.

Norman Rockwell's painting, A Drum for Tommy or Santa with Drum, appeared on the cover of The Country Gentleman on 12/17/1921
Norman Rockwell Santa Claus
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