A new record dollar amount for an American painting was realized on December 4, 2013. The gavel came down at $46 million dollars during Sotheby's American Art auction in New York for Norman Rockwell's "Saying Grace." The price does include a buyer's premium, and the painting was completed in 1951. The previous record for a Rockwell painting was reported by the AP to be $15 million for "Breaking Home Ties", which was sold at auction in 2006.
The Norman Rockwell Painting "Saying Grace"
10 Notes about Rockwell's "Saying Grace" Painting
- "Saying Grace" was on the Thanksgiving cover of the Saturday Evening Post in 1951.
- This painting was based on an idea from a reader who had seen a Mennonite family praying in a restaurant.
- "Saying Grace" was from the collection of Kenneth J. Stuart, an editor for the Saturday Evening Post who worked with Rockwell for over 20 years.
- The pre sale estimate for the painting was $15-20 million.
- Norman Rockwell earned $3500 for the painting.
- "Saying Grace", along with other Rockwell paintings in this auction, had been displayed at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass. for over 20 years.
- Norman Rockwell produce 322 covers for the Saturday Evening Post during his 47 year-long career.
- Rockwell's son modeled for the painting. He is sitting at the table with his back to the window.
- The "Saying Grace" painting was voted as the Saturday Evening Post readers' favorite cover in a 1955 survey.
- In Rockwell's memoir, he said the painting was more about the respectful reaction of the onlookers than the two people praying.
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