Norman Rockwell and the Boy Scouts of America
Special exhibit on view this summer
First hired by the Boy Scouts of America to create a series of pen and ink drawings for The Boy Scout’s Hike Book, Norman Rockwell was appointed art editor of Boys’ Life magazine at the age of nineteen. In 1916, at the age of twenty-two, Rockwell began his tenure at The Saturday Evening Post, and although he resigned his salaried position at Boys’ Life to pursue new opportunities, he continued to include images of Scouts on Post covers and in the monthly magazine of the American Red Cross. A few years later, in 1925, Rockwell resumed work with the Boy Scouts of America, creating the first of fifty-one annual illustrations for Brown and Bigelow’s highly successful Boy Scout calendar. This exhibition featuring original illustrations and objects from the Museum’s collection looks back at the artist’s sixty-four year relationship with this venerable organization, the longest association of his professional career.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Born in New York City in 1894, Norman Rockwell always wanted to be an artist. At age 14, Rockwell enrolled in art classes at The New York School of Art (formerly The Chase School of Art). Two years later, in 1910, he left high school to study art at The National Academy of Design. He soon transferred to The Art Students League, where he studied with Thomas Fogarty and George Bridgman. Fogarty’s instruction in illustration prepared Rockwell for his first commercial commissions. From Bridgman, Rockwell learned the technical skills on which he relied throughout his long career.
Rockwell found success early. He painted his first commission of four Christmas cards before his sixteenth birthday. While still in his teens, he was hired as art director of Boys’ Life, the official publication of the Boy Scouts of America, and began a successful freelance career illustrating a variety of young people’s publications.
IMAGES
©Norman Rockwell Family Agency. All rights reserved.
Boy Scouts of America, 1935
RELATED EVENTS
There are no upcoming events at this time.