WORTHINGTON FINE ART GALLERIES

Historic Authentic Hand Signed Norman Rockwell Lithograph Entitled as “Celebration 1976” and by the Norman Rockwell Museum as “Liberty Bell”| This is a Limited Edition Original Print of Norman Rockwell’s last and final painting, and his last magazine illustration cover | Personally Signed by Norman Rockwell (American, 1894-1978) in pencil on lower right – “Norman Rockwell” | The Limited Edition Lithograph has been Numbered on the lower left – “408/950″ | Dimensions: Sight- 27.25″ x 21.25″ With Frame: 30″ x 24” | Good Condition: Has some overall toning and fading commensurate with age.

Norman Rockwell was a world renowned and much loved artist and illustrator for the Saturday Evening Post. This print titled “Celebration” was Norman Rockwell’s salute to America’s Bicentennial. It was his last painting and his final magazine cover illustration and was commissioned by the editors of American Art magazine. This series was officially issued by The Norman Rockwell Museum in 1976.

From the Norman Rockwell Museum:

Liberty Bell (Celebration), 1976
The U.S. bicentennial was celebrated in a variety of ways in 1976, all distinctly American. American Artist magazine chose Norman Rockwell, the quintessential American artist, to paint the cover illustration for its July 1976 issue. In an accompanying article, Editor Susan E. Meyer wrote that “it seemed fitting that America’s favorite art magazine should commission America’s favorite painter to celebrate the occasion of the nation’s 200th birthday.”

The painting, done when Rockwell was 82, was his last magazine cover illustration. It depicts the artist and another American symbol, the Liberty Bell. Rockwell’s concept was simple: the artist and his paint box, the bell, and a celebrative red happy birthday banner. The painting focuses on the essence of the bicentennial celebration, as Americans took time away from their responsibilities to celebrate American life, freedoms, and values with their country and each other.

Liberty Bell was Rockwell’s second cover illustration for American Artist (the first appeared in 1964). Rockwell himself appeared on the cover in 1940, shortly after the magazine was founded.

Liberty Bell (Celebration), Norman Rockwell, 1976. Oil on canvas, 45″ x 33″. Cover illustration for American Artist, July 1976. Collection of Billboard Publications.