This was a fantastic piece of work that speaks to the many of the individuals who posed for Norman Rockwell...and how much they were all small-town American wholesome folks. It truly is a joy to read, and I recommend it for anyone who loves his work...that and the Norman Rockwell Museum in Mass. Some amazing work all around.

Norman Rockwell's Models is an interesting collection of stories collected and curated by S.T. Haggerty about the people Norman Rockwell knew and painted from his area. Released 15th Feb 2023 by Rowman & Littlefield, it's 312 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

The iconic paintings are familiar to almost everyone. They graced the covers of The Saturday Evening Post and for many Americans, they became synonymous with middle America. This is the story of the men, women, and children of Rockwell's acquaintance who became his models. There aren't many earth shattering revelations here, and no scandals to speak of, but it's full of warm reminiscence and kindly nostalgia. The book is further enhanced by the inclusion of black and white pictures of the paintings, facsimiles of items from the archives of the Rockwell Museum, snippets from interviews, and pictures from the private family collections of the models themselves.

Four stars. All in all a fascinating, often tantalizing, glimpse into the background of a beloved artist and cultural icon. It would make a good selection for public or school library acquisition, as well as home use.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purpose

A look at the models that Norman Rockwell used for many of his paintings. Though the years. And a lot of them were just every day people.