This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 6/30/2005.
Norman Rockwell is by far America's best known and most beloved artist. His paintings have preserved for posterity every fact of twentieth century American culture from the horse and buggy to the space age. Having attended art classes at The New York School of Art (1908), he later studied with artists Thomas Fogarty and George Bridgman at The Art Students League. His talent was apparent from an early age; having been commissioned to paint Christmas cards before the age of sixteen, by the age of 20 he was the art director of the Boy Scouts' publication "Boy's Life." Within a few years Rockwell had moved to the New Rochelle, NY and set up a studio where, with cartoonist Clyde Forsythe, he painted for magazines such as "Life" and "Country Gentleman." Rockwell's big break came in 1916, when he painted his first cover for the popular "Saturday Evening Post" which would become a showcase for his works. He would remain there for 47 years and 321 covers, acknowledged as the greatest American artist of his generation. Concurrently, he illustrated several editions of American classics such as "Tom Sawyer" and "Huckleberry Finn." Rockwell's themes were predominantly vignettes in space and time of purely American culture, and each has a story to tell. During WWII, he painted the famous "Four Freedoms" posters, symbolizing the war aims described in the speech by President Roosevelt that inspired him. Over the years, Rockwell painted several self-portraits, the most famous being his 1960 "Triple Self Portrait," which he painted at the age of 66. Rockwell published his autobiography "My Adventures As An Illustrator" the same year, in collaboration with his son Tom. The "Saturday Evening Post" printed excerpts from the book in a series, with the "triple Self Portrait" appearing on the first cover on February 13, 1960. This piece gives a deep insight into the mind and style of the artist. Rockwell gives a nod to his inspirations Rembrandt, Van Gogh and Picasso by "tacking" their self portraits to the upper right corner of his canvas. Multiple self portraits, of the Rockwell nature, are much rarer than single self portraits. The smoking bucket with tattered canvas remains on the lower right likely acknowledges his 1943 studio fire. This is a 31 ½" x 23 ½" (matted and framed to 40" x 33") artists proof lithograph of Rockwell's "Triple Self Portrait." The lithograph's full edition consisted of 200 signed and numbered prints with full margins on Arches (cotton rag) paper. Each was personally numbered on the lower left and signed on the lower right by Norman Rockwell. There were an additional 60 artists proofs and 25 deluxe artists proofs on Japon (rice) paper. They were distributed by two major publishers (100 each), most notably Abrams. What makes this one practically priceless is that it was personally owned and kept by Rockwell himself, in his own studio or abode. Impeccable documentation attests to this fact; the affidavit letter from the owner reads,"...(my Great Aunt) originally purchased 1 of 100 'Triple Self Portrait' a signed print offered by Abrams Publishing Company as part of a two piece offer that came with a leather-bound book...In the 1970s her condo sustained a fire that claimed both pieces. Because she personally knew Norman Rockwell and owned a magazine service company out of Chicago, Illinois, she asked Mr. Rockwell for a replacement print. In turn, Norman Rockwell (gave or sold her his trial proof of this edition). "Upon Aunt Gladys' death, the print was given to me through her estate. Enclosed...is a photograph taken by Aunt Gladys of the replacement print in her business office. Note that the date of the photograph [included] (May 1976) is prior to Mr. Rockwell's death (1978)..." The lithograph has been signed in pencil on the lower right, who added "Trial Proof" in his own hand on the lower left. Also accompanied by a LOA from Jimmy Spence of PSA/DNA.