Homeschool Unit Study: Norman Rockwell

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Normal Rockwell’s story is one that should not be missed, as he proved to be an influential, interesting figure that characterized a movement.

Unlike many artists, Rockwell was successful almost immediately. He was born in 1894 in New York City and, by the time he was 16, he had his first commission. Soon, he was hired as an art director for the official publication of the Boy Scouts of America (Boys’ Life), and just like that, his freelance career was off and running.

However, Rockwell is not famous for his work with youth publications. No, he’s famous because of his later work that so beautifully depicted slices in small-town American life. You can see his iconic artwork on many Saturday Evening Post covers.

In 1916, he married, but they were divorced by 1930, when he met his second wife, a woman named Mary Barstow. They had three sons, and when they moved to Arlington, Vermont in 1939, that’s when Rockwell’s true skill began to take shape and adhere to the small-town life he was living.

Four years later, President Franklin Roosevelt addressed Congress, and an inspired Rockwell painted what would later become some of his most iconic work: The Four Freedoms: Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear. These artistic expressions exploded in popularity. Rockwell’s paintings raised over $130 million for the war effort through a roundabout way sponsored by the United States Treasury Department and the Post, with the sale of war bonds.

Even with his overwhelming success, Rockwell was not immune to tragedy. A fire destroyed his Arlington studio, paintings, and a collection of his historical costumes and props. It was a devastating tragedy, but one that Rockwell and his family managed to move past.

In 1977, Rockwell received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the highest civilian honor possible), one year before he passed away at 84 years old. In 2008, he became the official state artist for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He left behind a treasured, important legacy.