Norman Rockwell 1894 - 1978

Literary Digest, New York
Private Collection, early 1920s (acquired from the above)
By descent to the present owner

Literary Digest, June 24, 1922, illustrated on the cover
Mary Moline, Norman Rockwell Encyclopedia: A Chronological Catalogue of the Artist’s Work 1910-1978, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1979, illustrated fig. 1-95, p. 31
Christopher Finch, Norman Rockwell’s America, New York, 1985, p. 122, illustrated fig. 153, p. 124
Laurie Norton Moffatt, Norman Rockwell: A Definitive Catalogue, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, 1986, vol. I, no. C160, p. 61, illustrated p. 60

This work is in very good condition. The canvas is unlined. There is some slight rippling to the canvas in the upper left corner and some craquelure in the darkest areas of the background, mostly at the center left. Under UV: there is no apparent inpainting.
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.

Norman Rockwell executed his first illustration for the cover of Literary Digest in 1918 and would ultimately produce more than 40 images for the publication. While the imagery Rockwell produced for Literary Digest typically included families, the artist also engaged with the theme of growing old in America. Settling an Argument appeared on the cover of the magazine on June 24, 1922, and depicts two elderly gentleman engaged in scholarly pursuits. The work attests to Rockwell's early interest in referencing and replicating the work of the Old Masters, as the portrait and skull he renders in the foreground allude to the iconic works of the 16th century German portraitist Hans Holbein the Younger. Rockwell enjoyed placing works of art within his own paintings, and he often included references to other artists. This recurring motif provided the type of visual game Rockwell loved to present to his viewers, while simultaneously allowing him to demonstrate his knowledge of art historical precedents. Rockwell painted his last cover for Literary Digest in 1923, by which time his commissions for The Saturday Evening Post increasingly commanded his time and attention.