annieb123's Review of Norman Rockwell's Models

by S T Haggerty

In 1940, America’s favorite illustrator Norman Rockwell, his wife Mary and their three sons moved to the picturesque rural village of West Arlington, Vermont. The artist discovered a treasure trove of models. Norman Rockwell’s Models: In and out of the Studio is the first to detail these models’ lives, friendships with the artist, and experiences in his studio.

Dressed in quaint work clothing, the models were dairy farmers, carpenters, country doctors, soldiers, and mechanics. Norman Rockwell’s Models features non-fiction narratives telling the story of these folks during an era when they helped the war effort, farmed with horses, and received home visits from doctors. The book also describes the challenges the models faced in their own lives and how these affected their expressions in the paintings. For example, in several 1945 masterpieces, the jubilance Americans felt after the close of the second word war is revealed in their faces.

Upon meeting people, young or old, the artist would say, “Call Me Norman.” Rockwell learned the models’ roles in the community and their personalities, which fostered genuine paintings. He strove, for example, to find real-life soldiers to model as WWII heroes and spirited boys and girls for lively paintings. In the studio, Norman was charming and polite, but painstaking. He demonstrated poses and did whatever was necessary to evoke his trademark expressions, including telling stories of his own life, sometimes laughing or crying.

Spending entire summers at his family’s farmhouse near West Arlington, Vermont, the author, S.T. Haggerty, grew up knowing many models, including those who posed for such iconic works as Freedom of Speech, Breaking Home Ties, and Girl at the Mirror. Along with models and their families, the author hayed the scenic fields in the Batten Kill River Valley and swam under the red covered bridge on the Village Green. This experiences give him a unique perspective for telling this story.

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Norman Rockwell's Models is an interesting collection of stories collected and curated by S.T. Haggerty about the people Norman Rockwell knew and painted from his area. Released 15th Feb 2023 by Rowman & Littlefield, it's 312 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

The iconic paintings are familiar to almost everyone. They graced the covers of The Saturday Evening Post and for many Americans, they became synonymous with middle America. This is the story of the men, women, and children of Rockwell's acquaintance who became his models. There aren't many earth shattering revelations here, and no scandals to speak of, but it's full of warm reminiscence and kindly nostalgia. The book is further enhanced by the inclusion of black and white pictures of the paintings, facsimiles of items from the archives of the Rockwell Museum, snippets from interviews, and pictures from the private family collections of the models themselves.

Four stars. All in all a fascinating, often tantalizing, glimpse into the background of a beloved artist and cultural icon. It would make a good selection for public or school library acquisition, as well as home use.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Reading updates

25 February, 2023: Started reading

25 February, 2023: Finished reading

25 February, 2023: Reviewed