Norman Rockwell 1894-1978

Mr. Ernest Trigg (acquired directly from the artist)
Mr. and Mrs. William F. Cooke, Jr., Collegeville, Pennsylvania, circa 1975 (acquired from the above)
Mr. and Mrs. Henry B. Holt, Essex Fells, New Jersey, circa 1982 (acquired from the above)
Acquired by the present owner from the above

Stockbridge, Massachusetts, The Norman Rockwell Museum, June 1986-January 1987
Stockbridge, Massachusetts, The Norman Rockwell Museum, March 1993-June 1994

The Saturday Evening Post, December 31, 1921, illustrated p. 67
Mary Moline, Norman Rockwell Encyclopedia, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1979, no. 4-75, illustrated p. 170
Susan E. Myer, Norman Rockwell's People, New York, 1981, illustration of Rockwell at work on the painting p. 40
Laurie Norton Moffatt, Norman Rockwell: A Definitive Catalogue, vol. I, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, 1986, no. A700, p. 520, illustrated in color pl. 45
Norman Rockwell, Norman Rockwell: My Adventures as an Illustrator, New York, 1988, illustrated in color p. 151
Maureen Hart Hennessey and Anne Knutson, Norman Rockwell: Pictures for the American People, Atlanta, Georgia, 1999, illustration of Rockwell at work on the painting p. 40

Very good condition; lined; under UV: a 3 inch repaired tear near boy's foot, a 2 inch L-shaped repaired tear in lower part of bird house, some artist's pigments fluoresce under UV.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

In the early twenties, Norman Rockwell's studio was located on the second floor of a barn in New Rochelle, New York, which he rented for $25 a month from fellow resident George Lischke.  Rockwell, always on the lookout for a good model, employed Lischke's son Franklin to model for several paintings between 1921 and 1928, including several Saturday Evening Post covers, like No Swimming (June 4, 1921). According to Susan Myer, "His pay rose from 50 to 75 cents per hour, and eventually he was promoted to Rockwell's 'studio boy' at $5.00 a week. His responsibilities included sweeping up the studio, running errands, and occasionally answering the phone to say that Rockwell was out when the artist was pressing to meet a deadline" (Norman Rockwell's People, 1981, p. 36). Rockwell described Franklin as "a narrow-shouldered, stringy adolescent with a round head. He was one of the most gullible kids I've ever known... his ability to digest fantastic stories was immense. Clyde [Forsythe] used to tell him the most atrocious things. He'd sit in the big armchair rubbing his knees and gulping it all in. Then he'd dash downstairs to tell his father, and later on Mr. Lischke would laugh about it with us. Franklin was an awful nice little boy and a good model" (Norman Rockwell's People, p. 45).

One of Franklin's earliest assignments with Rockwell was an advertisement for the "Save the Surface Campaign" which was a co-operative organization of paint and varnish companies who encouraged people to use their products and services by educating them about their benefits. Rockwell, likely guided by the co-operative, depicted a young boy hard at work painting his bird house, supervised by a charming puppy that would clearly rather play with the boy. Reinforcing its purpose as an advertisement the paint and varnish cans are conveniently open in the corner while The Saturday Evening Post is visible, displaying the page with the advertiser's slogan "Save the surface and you save all – Paint and Varnish."

The advertisement first appeared in the in the December 1921 issue, offering $1,000 in prizes to the best titles for the picture. Rockwell, along with Edward Bok and Ernest Trigg, judged the contest, and "Painting the Little House" won $250 for best title. After the contest Trigg, who was the president of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce as well as a Philadelphia paint manufacturer, became the first owner of the painting. 

A photograph was taken of Rockwell painting the present work while Lishke modeled. It is possible this photo may have been staged after the painting was done since it appears finished and signed, however, the photo still shows many of the details Rockwell likely used throughout the completion of the painting: the old bicycle wheel, paint cans, and the Lischke family dog.

Franklin Lischke's work as a model for Rockwell and their continued friendship had a lasting effect on Lischke's life, and he eventually became an illustrator himself. After Rockwell's death he remarked "He was the best thing that could have happened to me."