AN ORIGINAL NORMAN ROCKWELL OIL PAINTING ENTITLED ‘OLD MAN AND BOY; FLYING A KITE’ FOR THE 1952 FOUR SEASONS CALENDAR

A rare and original preliminary study entitled ‘Old Man and Boy: Flying the Kite,’ oil on clear acetate, 12 x 14.25. This original work depicts an old man and a dog, seated on a hillside, watching a young boy fly a kite and was created by Rockwell for the 1952 for the FOUR SEASONS CALENDAR in which Rockwell created four images, Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter (our painting depicts Spring). Interestingly, our painting contains a self portrait of Rockwell perched by the kite flying child. Rockwell would state, “I’ve tried to capture on canvas some of my own fond memories….a youngster with a soaring, impatient kite…gran’pop and grandson on a warm lazy lake…These simple scenes represent to me some of the glory and wonder of nature, a little of the joy and happiness of freedom, and a whole lot of the just plain goodness of living.”

Signed and inscribed on the 16 x 19 off-white mat, “My best to Dr. Walter Sturdy, sincerely, Norman Rockwell.” This gorgeous original Rockwell oil painting  is cloth matted and framed to an overall size of 20.75 x 23.25, with the mat in a sleeve affixed to the reverse of the frame. Accompanied by an original 1952 Four Seasons calendar, with the finished piece featured on the page for the months of April, May and June.

In the 1950s, it was a customary practice for Rockwell to experiment with color studies before beginning what would become one of his famed oil depictions of everyday life. By using the unusual medium of oil on acetate, he could experiment with various color harmonies that he could then incorporate into the final composition. This study—serving as a beautiful representation of the creative workings behind the artist whose name would become synonymous with America—is a one-of-a-kind Rockwell original. Oversized