NORMAN ROCKWELL - INSCRIBED ORIGINAL ART SIGNED - HFSID 346861

NORMAN ROCKWELL
The iconic American artist pens his signature and famous dog on this copy of the book Norman Rockwell: Illustrator
Inscribed Original Art Signed: "[drawing of dog smoking a pipe] / My very best wishes to / William Hamilton, / artist, / sincerely / Norman Rockwell". Signed on first blank page. 9x12. First Edition Hardcover with book jacket. Title: Norman Rockwell: Illustrator. Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications, Inc. Place: New York City, New York. Year: 1946. Pages: 208. This book was actually written by Arthur L. Guptill, the co-founder of the publishing company Watson-Guptill. The publishing house also produced American Artist magazine. This book was published in 1946, decades before Rockwell's career had come to an end. Rockwell has drawn his famous Rockwell dog in black ink. The canine resembles his own dog, Butch, who appeared in many of Rockwell's illustrations in the 1940s and 1950s. The dog was ever present in one of Rockwell's most important series, Four Seasons (1948). Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) captured scenes from American life in his magazine covers and illustrations, often noted for their humorous and accurate depictions of 1940's and 1950's life. Rockwell's drawings, however, were skillfully executed with minute attention to detail and were so realistic that they usually resembled photographs rather than paintings. He painted over 300 covers for the "Saturday Evening Post" (1916-1965) after beginning his career at age 18 as an illustrator for "Boy's Life". In addition to his many works for the Post, Rockwell illustrated the "Boy Scout Calendar" from 1926-1976. Rockwell published his autobiography, Norman Rockwell, My Adventures as an Illustrator, in 1960. Original drawings by Rockwell are extremely desirable. William A. Hamilton Jr. (1901-1984) was an artist. After moving to Los Angeles in 1915, Hamilton studied at the Clay School of Art and also under Edgar Payne. His specialty was post-impressionist landscapes and he oftentimes painted with fellow artist Gray Bartlett. Book jacket worn around edges and spine. Minor tears and discoloration around edges. Edges of pages lightly toned. Otherwise, fine condition.