On the 250th anniversary of our nation, no more important American artist came to mind beyond Norman Rockwell. A recent experience may have caused him to be top of mind as our nation has a wealth of talented artists. Recently, however, I had the pleasure of researching two original drawings by this quintessential artist who was a true patriot and the greatest illustrator of 20th-century American life and values: Norman Percevel Rockwell (b. 1894 - d. 1978). In his 84 years he created iconic magazine covers with scenes of our national celebrations, historic events, traditions, humor, piety, human foibles, social awareness, the great American spirit, and patriotism that still entertain and inspire so many of us today.
Rockwell’s early influences and legendary career as an artist are well worth telling. One of the major influences on young Norman and his siblings was the fact that his father often read the works of Charles Dickens to his children. The British master storyteller of the 19th Century had a lifelong impact on the master visual storyteller. Decades later, it was the work of Norman Rockwell that inspired his two most avid contemporary collectors: filmmaker Stephen Spielberg and director George Lucas, both master storytellers in their own right.
A private client called one day recently and stated that she had inherited two original drawings by Rockwell. She wanted to know more about them and asked me to come take a look. I travelled to her home to view and photograph both works of art and to find out what she knew about their origins. She presented me with a past appraisal which turned out to be a conservation report for when the pieces had been cleaned. Most importantly the appraisal included a brief December 1968 news article written by her grandfather, Floyd Jerome Patten.
Floyd Jerome Patten was an important person in Rockwell’s life as he was an assistant editor of Boy’s Life, a new magazine at the time about scouting which was founded by Edward Cave in 1913. Many of the very first artists used in the magazine donated their work at no charge.
The 1968 article states: “One day, a gangling lad about 20 years old walked in carrying a huge portfolio. He told us he had just finished an art course and asked us to look at his pictures. We realized at a glance the boy had talent. One of the covers fitted our needs exactly. He mentioned a modest price and we bought it. He told us that it was the first picture he had sold. We bought many others later and he became our staff artist. The staff artist and the assistant editor became close friends.”
“One day the still gangling youth stood before my desk holding a picture: “Mr. Patten here is a practice character study I have just finished. I want to give it to you if you like it. LIKE IT? I LOVED IT! Now it hangs behind my easy chair where I can look at it dozens of times a day.” The drawing of the boy was dated 1914 and signed with the artist’s initials “NPR”. The second drawing is Norman Rockwell’s signed portrait of his friend and assistant editor of Boy’s Life, Floyd Jerome Patten, circa 1915.
Rockwell’s place in American culture was further cemented by his series of Boy Scouts images. He is best known for his Saturday Evening Post magazine covers.
He was the creator of Rosie the Riveter and his paintings, The Four Freedoms, raised $142 million in War Bonds during their World War II national tour. The top price for a Rockwell painting was $41 million for Lot #10, Saying Grace (1951), sold at Sotheby’s New York on December 4, 2013. The top price for an original Rockwell drawing was Lot #30, Christmas Homecoming (1948), which sold for $650,000 on May 21, 2019 at Sotheby’s New York.
Mark Alexander can be reached through www.artserve2000.com.