The young tewnty-one-year-old, Norman Percy Rockwell, art editor of a small nondescript boys’ magazine sat nervously in the office of Walter H. Dower, art editor of America’s dominant magazine at the time, The Saturday Evening Post. He’d come from New Rochelle, New York, to Philadelphia for the interview.  He passionately wanted his art to be considered for the cover of their magazine.

It was early spring of 1916, and he felt it was time that he took a step up in the art world.  He felt he could do better than working for the boys’ magazine and had decided to take a chance.  But he was nervous while he sat waiting for Mr. Dower’s decision.

Dower took the two paintings and a sketch that Rockwell presented him and went into a private room leaving the nervous young man alone with intimidating original artwork from well known Post artist hanging on the wall.

When Dower returned, he returned with a check for the two paintings and instructed Rockwell to paint the sketch.  He also said that the editor, George Horace Lortimer, decide that they ought to have three additional covers.  The first Rockwell cover appeared on the Post May 20, 1916 and there were hundreds after this.

Rockwell portrayed the century of the common man on his Post covers.  His common man was deeply American.  He also  presented the common man’s wife, his children, his pastor, his doctor, his garage mechanic, his banker, his druggist, his grocer, his barber, his dog his neighbor and much much more.

The person Rockwell portrayed in his paintings wore the natural dignity of the ordinary man who is unafraid to carry his own weight.  He liked his characters and enjoyed showing them with both a sense of humor and sympathy.  Because his art portrayed affection, they aroused affection in the heart of the beholder.

Mr. Rockwell’s paintings are on loan to our museum here in the city through February 17th, and I intend to go visit them.  I’m consider filming my trip and uploading it on the internet.  I’ve never done that, yet, but I might as well.