NORMAN ROCKWELL
Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) Study for "Scouts of Many Trails" oil on masonite 40 x 28 1/2 in. c. 1937 Provenance: Rose Marie Kunkle Spielberger, gift from the artist Private Collection, by descent Private Collection, New York Literature: Boy's Life, February 1937 cover illustration (finished painting) William Hillcourt, Norman Rockwell's World of Scouting, Harry N. Abrams, New York, 1977, p. 36 Norman Rockwell: A Definitive Catalogue, 1986, volume I, p. 274-275, no. A57 (finished painting)
Renowned painter and illustrator of idyllic American scenes, Rockwell had a prolific career that included a six-decade relationship with the Boy Scouts of America. This painting is an intermediate study for a BSA calendar illustration that also became a cover illustration for a 1937 issue of Boys' Life magazine. A rich visual narrative addressing youth, wisdom, and adventure, this work presents an important compositional step toward the final published illustration.
heatherjames.com