Buying Norman Rockwell Paintings: The Ultimate Collector Dream

Owning actual original Norman Rockwell paintings is akin to owning stock in a fortune 500 company.

Both are worth lots of money and both should appreciate in value over the years. But that is where the similarities end.

Depending on your decor, you can't hang stock certificates on your wall like you can with a original Rockwell painting. At least I think the painting would look much better anyway.

With an original painting, you can see the brush strokes. This is next to impossible unless you are looking at the original. You get a much better feel of his art when you can look at the original paintings.

Occasionally a Rockwell painting turns up for sale. An original brings a high six figure price nowadays. Actually, six figures would be a great bargain for some of the more famous Norman Rockwell Orginial paintings. Most people who own original Rockwells hold on to them.

A original Norman Rockwell is really a keepsake. He is not painting any more of them.

Beware of Fakes

I have seen what was advertised as an original Norman Rockwell painting of JFK on eBay. The starting bid was $2000. That would be such an incredible bargain if it was not a fake. However, I believe that it was a fake. No one in their right mind would sell original Rockwell paintings for that low price.

One famous Rockwell original, Breaking Home Ties, recently (2006) sold at auction for $15,416,000 (USD) by Sotheby's New York. The pre-auction estimate was $4,000,000 to $6,000,000. Other recent auction sales of Norman Rocwell paintings include Homecoming Marine from 1945 (sold in 2006) and Gary Cooper as The Texan from 1930 (sold in 2007).

When completely redecorating, including house painting, perhaps a Norman Rockwell print or poster would be more affordable. Not to mention, there would be no concerns about authenticity.

More Affordable Norman Rockwell Paintings

While not exactly an original, GlobalGallery.com offers canvas reproductions of 164 different Norman Rockwell paintings. I have not bought one yet, but the price was quite affordable.