Norman Rockwell - New Television Antenna

November 5, 1949 Issue of The Saturday Evening Post

This painting by Norman Rockwell, New Television Antenna, appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post published November 5, 1949. This is yet another timeless favorite of Rockwell collectors, a classic for the ages.

Another title for this painting is New Television Set.

This painting was Rockwell's fifth cover for The Post in 1949. In 1949, there were a total of five Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post covers published.

This painting was also Rockwell's 262nd 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.

The original oil on canvas painting, 46.5 x 43 inches or 118 by 109 cm, is currently part of the collection of The Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The painting was given by Rockwell to his friend, Mr. Ned Crowell, whose widow in turn gave it to the museum.

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

• as illustration 27 of Norman Rockwell's America by Christopher Finch,
• as illustration 459 of Norman Rockwell: Artist and Illustrator by Thomas Buechner,
• on page 48 of The Norman Rockwell Album,
• on page 100 of Norman Rockwell: A Sixty Year Retrospective by Thomas Buechner and
• on page 184 of Norman Rockwell, A Definitive Catalogue by Laurie Norton Moffatt.

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

New Television Antenna

This classic Norman Rockwell painting shows a new television enthusiast having his antenna installed.

Members of the general public started buying televisions and, with them, television antennae, during the late 1940's. The subject of this painting could not have been more topical. No doubt, lots of Post readers could relate to the problems associated with making the new TV sets properly receive ths signal from their local station.

We can see through the open window just how clear the picture is on the new TV. It doesn't look clear to me!

The man leaning out of the window looks very excited and appears to be telling the antenna installer on the roof that the picture is coming in good. Maybe it just looks better than it did before.

This scene takes place in the area around Adams Street in Los Angeles.

Rockwell was fond of Los Angeles; after all, he met his wife Mary in LA on his very first trip there in 1930.

Rockwell and his family spent many winters during the 1940's in Los Angeles. It was a pleasant break from the harsh Vermont winters back home in Arlington.

This neighborhood was, no doubt, familiar environs for the artist. While wintering in Los Angeles, he became artist-in-residence at the Otis Art Institute which later became the Los Angeles County Art Institute.

Two of his students helped Rockwell by modeling for this painting. Robert H. Horton, who was an architecture student at the time, posed for the part of the television serviceman. Jack Farman, another Otis Art Institute student, was the model for the elderly customer.

At this point of his career, Rockwell had been using photographs to compose his paintings' layouts. This allowed him to become more elaborate and detailed in the backgrounds of his paintings. Those details shine through in New Television Antenna.

The house pictured is characteristic of the large Victorians found in the Adams Street neighborhood where the picture was painted.

The house may have since been restored to its original glory. In 1949, it was showing already signs of wear.

The detailed woodwork under the peak of the roof has been neglected by the homeowner for a while. Only two of the spokes remain in position. Other details in the woodwork have started to be broken or worn.

One of the shingles on the siding has cracked in half and the loose half has fallen off.

The flowers in the window box look healthy and vibrant, better, in fact, than the window box itself.

Still, the man looks happy. In fact, no other television antennas are visible on any other roofs.

So, it is not just a new television set; it may be the first television set in the neighborhood.