New Rochelle Library

New Rochelle, New York

The New Rochelle Library features one original Norman Rockwell painting and several pencil and charcoal drawings in its permanent collection.

While not technically a Norman Rockwell museum, the library is listed here because it does boaast some Rockwell artwork.

As another important tie-in, Rockwell lived and maintained a studio in New Rochelle during the early years of his career. So it was only natural that he held a certain fondness for the city and its residents.

And most important of all, the artwork is displayed, not tucked away in some stuffy storeroom or closet where no one can enjoy it!

That is more than we can say for many "real" musuems with Rockwell paintings in their collections.

New Rochelle Library: Home of The Land of Enchantment

The prize of the library's collection is one of the larger of the original Norman Rockwell paintings. The Land of Enchantment was originally published in December 22, 1934 edition of The Saturday Evening Post.

The Land of Enchantment, a 37 x 76 inch or 94 x 193 cm oil on canvas painting, is on display inside the library. At more than six feet in width, it is one of Rockwell's largest works.

The painting shows a boy reading and being transported in his mind to a fantasy world, all through the power of books and imagination.

New Rochelle Library: Eight Tom Sawyer Studies

As if that treasure wasn't enough, several pencil and charcoal on paper studies from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer were discovered in and consequently belong to the library.

• Tom Sawyer: Whitewashing the Fence, a 24 x 18 inches or 61 x 45.5 cm pencil and charcoal on paper is captioned "Well, I don't see why I oughtn't to like it. Does a boy get a chance to whitewash a fence every day?"


• Tom Sawyer: Dog and Beetle, a 24 x 18 inches or 61 x 45.5 cm pencil and charcoal on paper is captioned "He spied the beetle; the drooping tail lifted and wagged."


• Tom Sawyer: Dead Cat, a 24 x 18 inches or 61 x 45.5 cm pencil and charcoal on paper, is captioned "Lemme see him, Huck. My, he's pretty stiff!"


• Tom Sawyer: Schoolmaster Flogging Tom Sawyer, a 24 x 18 inches or 61 x 45.5 cm pencil and charcoal on paper, is captioned "The master's arm performed until it was tired and the stock of switches notably diminished."


• Tom Sawyer: Tom Sawyer Sneaking Out Window, a 24 x 18 inches or 61 x 45.5 cm pencil and charcoal on paper, is captioned "He meow'd with caution once or twice."


• Tom Sawyer: Aunt Polly Giving Tom Sawyer Medicine, a 24 x 18 inches or 61 x 45.5 cm pencil and charcoal on paper, is captioned "She calculated his capacity as she would a jug's and filled him up every day with quack cure-alls."


• Tom Sawyer: Huck Teaching Tom and Joe to Smoke, a 24 x 18 inches or 61 x 45.5 cm pencil and charcoal on paper, is captioned "Both boys were looking very pale and miserable."


• Tom Sawyer: Tom and Becky Lost in Cave, a 24 x 18 inches or 61 x 45.5 cm pencil and charcoal on paper, is captioned "Tom, Tom, we're lost! We're lost!"

I was uncertain if the paintings are actually displayed or if they are in storage somewhere. So I called the library and asked. I was informed that they are on display.

What a treat for library patrons!

This library is definitely worth a visit. Especially for a Norman Rockwell collector.

The finished oil on canvas paintings for these studies are on display at the Mark Twain Museum in Hannibal, Missouri.

About New Rochelle Library

The library is open seven days a week. Library hours are:
Monday 9am - 8pm
Tuesday 9am - 8pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 8pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm.

There is, of course, no admission fee to see the painting.

New Rochelle Public Library, Main Branch
1 Library Plaza
New Rochelle, New York 10801

Phone (914) 632-7878

Visit the library website. (Opens in new window.)