Norman Rockwell - Willie Gillis: Home Sweet Home

November 29, 1941 Issue of The Saturday Evening Post

This painting by Norman Rockwell, Willie Gillis: Home Sweet Home, appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post published November 29, 1941. This is yet another timeless favorite of Rockwell collectors, a classic for the ages.

Another title for this painting is Home on Leave.

This painting was Rockwell's fifth cover for The Post in 1941. In 1941, there were six Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post covers published.

This painting was also Rockwell's 203nd overall of 322 total pictures featured on the cover of The Post. Rockwell's career with the Post spanned 47 years, from his first cover illustration, Boy With Baby Carriage in 1916 to his last, Portrait of John F. Kennedy, in 1963.

This is also the second in the Norman Rockwell Willie Gillis series of covers for The Saturday Evening Post. Rockwell painted eleven images that appeared on the Post cover and one illustration that was featured inside the Post.

I have seen pristine original copies of this magazine cover sell for over one hundred dollars on eBay. And to think it only cost five cents originally! And it was mint condition at that time, too.

The whereabouts of the original oil on canvas painting is currently unknown.

This painting also appears in three Rockwell commentary books. It appears:

• as illustration 251 of Norman Rockwell's America by Christopher Finch,
• as illustration 392 of Norman Rockwell: Artist and Illustrator by Thomas Buechner and
• on page 148 of Norman Rockwell, A Definitive Catalogue by Laurie Norton Moffatt.

It also appears on page 67 of A Treasury of the Saturday Evening Post.

Willie Gillis: Home Sweet Home

This classic Norman Rockwell painting shows Willie Gillis, the boy next door, enjoying some time at home on leave.

Going home on leave was most young GI's idea of heaven.

Eating home cooked food and sleeping in a real bed become treats when stationed away from home.

In the previous installment of Willie's story, we saw what happened when his mother or grandmother sent him a food package. He had to share it with other servicemen away from home.

Willie doesn't have to share his treat this time!

Willie is enjoying the comfort of his own bed. Complete with two fluffy pillows and a thick patchwork quilt, his single bed is just about a perfect respite from the hardships of war.

Either Willie has gone to bed early or he is sleeping late. The clockon the night stand indicates that time is almost eleven o'clock. We do not know if it is morning or night.

Also on the night stand is a tea pot and cup. His tobacco pipe is also on the night stand. Willie is enjoying as many comforts of home as possible. Rest and relaxation, indeed!

His bag on the floor proudly proclaims "Property of Pvt. Willie Gillis, Fort Dix, N.J." However, he didn't even bother properly hanging up his uniform. The uniform is just hanging on the bed post. He must be planning on wearing the uniform again in the morning.

The sign proclaiming Home Sweet Home hanging on the wall over his bed really does say it all.

You may be also interested in these:
Norman Rockwell Willie Gillie Series Introduction
Food Package
Home Sweet Home
USO
Hometown News
What to Do in a Blackout
In Church
Girls with Letters
Cat's Cradle
New Year's Eve
Gillis Family Heritage
In College