News Release

Frazier International History Museum Presents Norman Rockwell’s
November 3, 2007–January 2, 2008

As a salute to Americana the Frazier International History Museum presents Norman Rockwell's Home for the Holidays, on loan from the Norman Rockwell Museum. This exhibition, featuring 40 original Saturday Evening Post magazine covers, includes many of Norman Rockwell's most memorable and enduring holiday images. This exhibit is free with gallery admission.

During his 47-year affiliation with The Saturday Evening Post, Norman Rockwell (1894–1978) was celebrated for his special holiday cover illustrations, which were commissioned to mark a full spectrum of annual events, from Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day to Valentine's Day and April Fool's Day. This exhibition, featuring original Post cover tear sheets, includes many of Rockwell's most memorable and enduring holiday images.

Born in New York City, 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.

In 1916, the 22-year-old Rockwell painted his first cover for The Saturday Evening Post, the magazine considered by Rockwell to be the "greatest show window in America." Over the next 47 years, another 321 Rockwell covers would appear on the cover of the Post.

In 1943, inspired by President Franklin Roosevelt's address to Congress, Rockwell painted the Four Freedoms paintings. They were reproduced in four consecutive issues of The Saturday Evening Post with essays by contemporary writers. Rockwell's interpretations of Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear proved to be enormously popular. The works toured the United States in an exhibition that was jointly sponsored by the Post and the U.S. Treasury Department and, through the sale of war bonds, raised more than $130 million for the war effort.

In 1963, Rockwell ended his 47-year association with The Saturday Evening Post and began to work for Look magazine. During his 10-year association with Look, Rockwell painted pictures illustrating some of his deepest concerns and interests, including civil rights, America's war on poverty, and the exploration of space.

Often celebrated as America’s favorite artist, Rockwell received the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal, in 1977.

The Museum is open 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Saturday and Noon to 5:00pm on Sunday. Museum admission rates are $9 for Adults, $7 for Seniors (60+), $6 for children under 14, and free for children under 5.

The Museum is located at 829 West Main St., Louisville, KY.