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Norman Rockwell Christmas GalleryIn Chronological Order: 1913 Through 1919Norman Rockwell Christmas paintings have been treasured since the early days of his paintings. Whether we are talking about the traditional spiritual subjects, Santa Claus or Christmas trees, Rockwell covered thatsubject sometime during his career. The width and breadth of this subject will probably occupy several pages of this web resource. Links to the further pages will appear after those images presented here.
Norman Rockwell Christmas GalleryThe first known Christmas scenes painted by Rockwell appeared on hand-painted Christmas cards commissioned by some of his neighbors early in the 1910's. Sadly, no examples of these remain. The first Christmas painting by Norman Rockwell published on the cover of a magazine appeared in 1913 on Boys' Life. At that time, Rockwell was employed as the art director of the Boy Scouts' flagship publication.
1913The earliest published Norman Rockwell paintings appeared in magazines that were published to be read by children. Boy's Life was the most prominent of the group.
It was altogether fitting that Rockwell's first Christmas painting and first Santa claus was published on the cover of Boys' Life. The Boy Scout publication had awarded the artist his first steady paying job plying his talents as an illustrator earlier in 1913. This illustration, Santa and Scouts in the Snow, shows two Scouts doing their good deed for the day. This was only the first of many Christmas paintings featuring kindly expressioned white bearded Norman Rockwell Santa Clauses. 1915
Rockwell's next published Christmas illustrations appeared in the December 1915 issue of St.Nicholas magazine. St.Nicholas was a children's magazine. The title of the article that Rockwell illustrated was Mr. S. Claus's Predicament. Three Rockwell illustrations accompanied that story. 19161916 was the publication year of the next Norman Rockwell Christmas paintings. Three paintings were published for the holiday season that year Two magazine covers and one book frontispiece were the Norman Rockwell holiday fare in 1916.
Rockwell painted his first Saturday Evening Post Christmas cover during his first year as a Post artist. The Post published its first Christmas cover by this future American icon on December 9th, 1916. This illustration, Man Playing Santa, featured a grandfather type trying on a white beard and red cap. All manner of toys surround the man and the sales clerk. Rockwell painted many more Christmas paintings featuring men in various stages of portraying Santa Claus.
December 1916 also saw this cover illustration by Rockwell appearing on American Boy. This illustration, Merry Christmas Grandpa, showed a grandfather and his grandson opening presents around the Christmas tree. I think the gentleman in this painting looks very much like the one in Man Playing Santa. Once again, we can see examples of the toys popular in 1916.
The book, This Way to Christmas, written by Ruth Sawyer, was actually published in October 1916, in time for sales during the Christmas season.. This illustration, A Dozen Yards From the Trapper's Hut They Planted One Post, shows a scene from the book. A boy and two men are putting a sign post into the frozen ground. 1917In 1917, three more Christmas paintings by Norman Rockwell found their way onto the covers of three different magazines. The Country Gentleman, Leslie's and Peoples Popular Monthly all enjoyed holiday scenes conceived by America's favorite illustrator. Milestones also published a Christmas article, A Clause for Santa Claus, by Jack Lait, in the December 1917 issue. However, the illustration is not very Christmasy so I have omited it.
December 22, 1917 saw this cover illustration by Rockwell appearing on The Country Gentleman. This illustration, Cousin Reginald Under the Mistletoe, showed city cousin Reginald Fitzhugh inasdvertently entertaining his grinning country cousin Rusty. Cousin was apparently shy and had never kissed a girl. Nothing like a little mistletoe to help things along!
Also published on December 22, 1917 was this cover painting for Leslie's. This illustration, They Remembered Me, showed Private Sammie Smith on the front during World War One. He is opening a Christmas care package from home. The title comes from Sammie's pleased realization that his family had not forgotten him during his service.
Peoples Popular Monthly published this Norman Rockwell Christmas painting on its December 1917 issue. This illustration, Girl with Christmas Doll, showed a little girl with last year's Christmas doll in her arms. Under the Christmas tree, she spies her new doll. In this painting, we get a glimpse of not only two dolls of the period, but also a typical Christmas tree complete with candles on its boughs. 1918In 1918, only one Christmas painting by Norman Rockwell was published. Readers of The Literary Digest enjoyed a moving holiday scene courtesy of America's favorite illustrator.
The Literary Digest published this Norman Rockwell Christmas painting on its December 14, 1917 issue. This illustration, In Redeemed Belgium, showed a Belgian family enjoying their first Christmas after their country was liberated in World War One. They were celebrating with two of their liberators, two American servicemen. The feast is modest, but more than they have grown accustomed to having. 1919Christmas 1919 witnessed a pair of Norman Rockwell Christmas paintings being published. The Saturday Evening Post published its second Rockwell holiday scene as did The Literary Digest also.
December 20, 1919 saw a Norman Rockwell Christmas painting return to the cover of The Saturday Evening Post. This illustration, Grandfather and Snowman, featured a grandfather meeting his likeness in the person of a snowman.
Also published on December 20, 1919 was this cover painting for The Literary Digest. This illustration, Under the Mistletoe, showed an older couple enjoying a caress and a loving gaze into each other's eyes under the mistletoe. Kissing was not allowed on magazine covers back in that day, but the buildup to it was. See also Norman Rockwell Christmas shopping recommendations. Visit the Norman Rockwell Santa Claus Gallery...
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Christmas Favorites
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