Cover illustration for American Artist, July 1976. Norman Rockwell Museum Collection.
In spring 1975, editors of American Artist magazine invited Norman Rockwell to create the cover for their July 1976 Bicentennial issue, approaching him early in recognition of his preference for long deadlines. The editors proposed an image of Rockwell trying a celebratory ribbon around the Liberty Bell, while editor Susan Meyer suggested including his paint box, brushes, and paints beneath the bell to reinforce his identity as an artist and strengthen the composition. An accompanying essay detailed Rockwell's working process for the magazine's artist readership.
The commission marked a significant return to magazine cover illustration: not since his 1966 Look magazine cover depicting President Kennedy and Peace Corps volunteers had a newly created Rockwell painting appeared on a national magazine cover. His final published cover thus became both a tribute to the nation's Bicentennial and a reflection on his own role in shaping twentieth-century American identity through more than six decades of illustration.
Quality
Norman Rockwell Museum Custom Prints offers exclusive custom reproductions of artworks in the collections and exhibitions of the Norman Rockwell Museum. Hand-made in the USA using gallery-quality materials, we create prints as true to the original work as possible, using strict color management protocols and state-of-the-art printing technology.Selection
Many of the works offered through this store are exclusive and not available anywhere else. We are continually adding new artworks to our offering, so be sure to check back regularly as you build your own gallery. A variety of molding styles means our custom framed prints can match any type of decor.