Norman Rockwell

About

Painter and Saturday Evening Post illustrator known for his images of American family life. His most famous, politically themed works included "Rosie the Riveter" and "The Problem We All Live With."

Before Fame

He was asked at age 18 to illustrate Carl H. Claudy's work, "Tell Me Why: Stories about Mother Nature." Early in his career, he also began creating cover art for Boys' Life, the Boy Scout publication. His first Boys' Life cover, "Scouts at Ship's Wheel," was published on the September 1913 edition.

Trivia

His "Four Freedoms" series was inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt's four principles for universal rights: Freedom from Want, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, and Freedom from Fear. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977.

Family Life

He married Irene O'Connor in 1916. She served as his inspiration for "Mother Tucking Children into Bed," which appeared on The Literary Digest cover from January 19, 1921. The couple divorced 14 years later. He married schoolteacher Mary Barstow, with whom he fathered three children: Jarvis Waring, Thomas Rhodes, and Peter Barstow.

Associated With

Actress Judy Garland was one of his portrait subjects.