Serendipity and Norman Rockwell

One of the things you find out when you are traveling is that some of the best sights are found where you don't expect them. Yesterday turned out to be a good example. The morning  dawned rainy with another 100% likelihood of precipitation all day. We looked for something to visit that would not require us to be outside and I spotted an advertisement for a little gift shop in Arlington, Vermont that claimed to have a display of Norman Rockwell illustrations and information about his models. The ad mentioned quite honestly that the illustrations were reproductions rather than originals, but it also pointed out that the models for many of his illustrations had lived in Arlington and we could read their comments about having Rockwell for a neighbor and being painted by him.

It turned out to be one of the most interesting stops on our trip so far. We thought we were fairly familiar with his work, but there were dozens of illustrations we'd never seen before, all of them displaying his extraordinary talent and humor. His neighbors, who had been interviewed for the little gallery, shared wonderful insights and their photos hung side by side with the illustrations or paintings in which they appeared. Jeff and I both loved it. They also had a good movie playing that  showed Rockwell's own family history, too. I am aware that Rockwell is considered by some to be simply a commercial painter rather than an artist, and it's true, he created Saturday Evening Post covers, advertisements, posters for the Federal government Bond Sales, etc. I suppose a "real" artist (like the ones in museums) would scorn such work. But Rockwell's paintings are accessible, funny, touching, inspirational and highly interesting. We had a great time.

Jeff is looking at a series of pictures Rockwell painted that featured the Boy Scouts of America.