A Norman Rockwell Christmas Illustration Captures the Holiday Spirit

Gift Ideas and Gallery

For Norman Rockwell Christmas was the most special time of the year. His illustrations of Santa Claus are the standard by which all other Santas have been measured.

In fact, even before his long association with the Saturday Evening Post began, individuals and churches commissioned Rockwell for their own personalised Christmas cards.

It is unknown whether some of those early hand-painted Christmas cards still exist. What a treasure that would be to find one of those early masterpieces. Any of them would probably be unrecognizable as a Norman Rockwell Christmas work, but would still be priceless.

1916 - Norman Rockwell, Santa and the Saturday Evening Post

Of course, Rockwell's career of painting defining Christmas images did not start in 1916 when his first holiday image for the Saturday Evening Post was published. But his career did explode at that time.

His holiday paintings before were wonderful. After becoming a Post artist, however, the confidence evident in his paintings began to show through.

Man Playing Santa Rockwell's first year as a Saturday Evening Post cover illustrator also marked his first Christmas cover. The Post published its first Christmas cover by this future American icon on December 9th, 1916. This illustration, Man Playing Santa, featured a grandfather type trying on a white beard and red cap. All manner of toys surround the man and the sales clerk. This was only the first of many Christmas paintings featuring kindly expressioned white bearded Santa Clauses. Read more...

Though best known for his Santa Claus paintings, Norman Rockwell's paintings of Christmas are not limited to such fanciful renderings of the jolly elf.

His winter scenes often appear on Christmas cards and on calendars. Who among us can gaze on one of Norman Rockwell winter scenes without reliving a white Christmas from the past?

And who can forget the Life magazine cover from December 16, 1920, entitled Is He Coming? Two children in front of the fireplace on Christmas Eve.

Stockings are hung, the tree is trimmed and a roaring fire is going. One child looks back at the parent and asks "Is he coming?"

This painting was conceived and executed fairly early in Norman Rockwell's career.

Ornaments and Figurines

Norman Rockwell Christmas ornaments are especially popular and beautiful. Decorations for your Christmas tree are easy to find on the net.

If you are a collector, you probably already know that new Christmas ornaments are released each year. Rockwell-Stockbridge.com has a wide assortment of Christmas ornaments and figurines.

www.NormanRockwellvt.com, the Norman Rockwell Museum of Vermont also has several Norman Rockwell Christmas figurines and plates listed for sale.

Rockwell Christmas wrapping paper makes a thoughtful statement. It seems, though, a waste to actually open the present when it is wrapped in such splendor. It appears, though, that no company is producing Norman Rockwell Christmas paper at the present time. I have not been able to find it and have resorted to making my own.

Visit the Norman Rockwell Santa Claus Gallery...