Man Reading Thermometer by Norman Rockwell

January 17, 1920 Issue of The Literary Digest

Man Reading Thermometer, this Norman Rockwell painting, appeared on the cover of The Literary Digest published January 17, 1920.

The alternate title for this work is Fifteen Below Zero.

This illustration was Rockwell's thirteenth picture featured on the cover of The Literary Digest.

The Digest featured Rockwell artwork on the cover nine times total in 1920 alone.

Starting in 1918 with the first cover, Boy Showing Off Badges to the last, The Night Before Christmas in 1923, The Literary Digest featured Rockwell artwork on its cover a total of forty-seven times.

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

• on page 74 of and
• on page 51 of Norman Rockwell, A Definitive Catalogue by Laurie Norton Moffatt.

The original oil on canvas painting, 22 x 18.5 inches or 56 x 47 cm, is part of a private collection.

Man Reading Thermometer

This painting makes me feel cold in the winter and cool in the summer!

Judging by the snowflakes, the wind is blowing fiercely. The snowflakes are blowing across the canvas diagonally. Rockwell paints snowflakes falling by removing paint from the canvas. This technique makes the snowflakes odd shapes with soft edges.

The old man in the picture seems chilly as well. His cheeks and nose are becoming visibly flushed. The steam of his breath is clearly visible. His hair, his goatee, even his eyebrows are being windblown.

He is looking at the thermometer over his reading glasses. He has one hand on the doorknob to keep the door from being blown open by the fierce wind. With his other hand, he clutches his tobacco pipe.

He has been sitting by the fire reading and smoking his pipe. He has decided to check the outside temperature. His look of surprise shows that he didn't realize how cold it was.

It was fifteen below zero during the day!

The snow has collected on the top of the thermometer, the outside doorknob and in the corners of the door panels.

Since Norman Rockwell painted topical themes, we can assume from this painting that the winter of 1920 was a very cold one.

Little Boy Writing Letter	The Novice Skater	The Departing Maid
Boy With Dog in Picnic Basket	Boy Sending Dog Home	Trio in Early Motorcar
Cave of the Winds	Man and Woman Seated Back to Back	Grandfather Frightened by Jack-O-Lantern
Santa and Expense Book

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