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The Faith of America
Norman Rockwell's most inspirational paintings are collected in this beautiful book. Enhanced by Fred Bauer's readable account of the story behind each painting as well as the man who created them.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 1996
41 people want to read
About the author
Fred Bauer
45 books4 followersFRED BAUER has written more than a dozen books, including How Many Hills to Hillsboro?, Everett Dirksen: The Man and His Words, For Rainy Mondays and Other Dry Spells (a book of poems), Then Sings My Soul (with George Beverly Shea), Putting It All Together (with Brooks Robinson), Daily Guideposts 1977 and 1978, The Springhouse Daily Devotional and In the Vineyard of the Lord (with Helen Steiner Rice).
Born in Ohio, he has had wide experience in communications, having worked in the newspaper, radio and magazine fields before turning to books. He makes his home in Princeton, New Jersey.
Born in Ohio, he has had wide experience in communications, having worked in the newspaper, radio and magazine fields before turning to books. He makes his home in Princeton, New Jersey.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 16, 2021
"Throughout his long career, he painted idealized subject in idealized settings pointing toward idealized conclusions, showing a world hoped for but seldom seen."
After Rockwell past away, the writer in this book visited Rockwell's home town in Vermont. He was impressed with the sincerity of the real friends of Norman. He talked to many townspeople that were models for Rockwell in his paintings. Couple of anecdotes: Rockwell would buy used clothing for his models to wear to assure the real textures came through when he painted. Rockwell had a piece of land across from someone in town that he refused to let loggers harvest simply so this friend could see the birches out his window the rest of his life.
The faith theme of this book resonated in Norman Rockwell's illustrations. The faith in America.
1. Faith in our Friends and Neighbors
2. Faith in our Loved Ones
3. Faith in our Hopes and Dreams
4. Faith in our Traditions
5. Faith in our Selves
6. Faith in our Country
7. Faith in our God
This is a well chosen collection with text throughout the book by Fred Bauer. Slightly oversize book. Excellent full-page reproductions of all prints. The text highlights some basic points about each and every one of the illustrations.
"For millions upon millions of Americans who judge art on how it makes them feel ... Rockwell is the best of them all, bar none, hands down, no contest."
"From the beginning there was no question he was good; he worked hard at his calling and he succeeded. From the Christmas cards he was commissioned to do for Mrs. Arnold Constable at age 16, to art editor of Boy's Life at 19, to cover illustrator for the Saturday Evening Post at 22, Rockwell's climb was meteoric, and he did it on his own.
"Some say Rockwell was born to illustrate World War II." (from the home-front perspective)
Try Norman Rockwell's World War II: Impression from the Homefront
I personally have 26 volumes of Rockwell prints, containing 613 different illustrations. I have my own 1-5 rating of his illustrations. This book is my 4th best at collecting my favorites:
1) 332 Magazine Covers contains 70 of my 4* and 5* favorites
2) Norman Rockwell contains 63 of my 4* and 5* favorites
3) Norman Rockwell's World of Scouting contains 56 of my 4* and 5* favorites
4) This book contains 53 of my 4* and 5* favorites (111 total prints in this book)
Here are my 4* and 5* Favorites in this book:
1-5 Rate . . . Date . . . Page . . . Title
5 . . . Date: 10/1/27 . . . pg 2 . . . The Stay at Homes
4 . . . Date: 1/11/47 . . . pg 6 . . . Piano Tuner
4 . . . Date: 2/10/62 . . . pg 19 . . . Lincoln for the Defense
5 . . . Date: 5/20/22 . . . pg 22 . . . Radio Listeners
4 . . . Date: 1/1/68 . . . pg 23 . . . Scouts - Scouting is Outing
4 . . . Date: 1/1/45 . . . pg 24 . . . War News; Listening for the Invasion of D-day
5 . . . Date: 3/9/29 . . . pg 34 . . . Doctor and Doll
5 . . . Date: 3/15/58 . . . pg 37 . . . Doctor's Office, Before the Shot
4 . . . Date: 4/12/47 . . . pg 38 . . . Norman Rockwell visits his Country Doctor
4 . . . Date: 7/9/49 . . . pg 40 . . . Traffic Conditions
4 . . . Date: 9/20/58 . . . pg 41 . . . The Runaway
5 . . . Date: 5/29/43 . . . pg 49 . . . Rosie the Riveter
4 . . . Date: 8/24/54 . . . pg 50 . . . Home Plate
4 . . . Date: 4/24/26 . . . pg 53 . . . Boy/Girl Gaze at Moon (Puppy Love)
4 . . . Date: 9/24/49 . . . pg 57 . . . Before the Date
4 . . . Date: 5/27/57 . . . pg 58 . . . After the Prom
4 . . . Date: 6/11/55 . . . pg 60 . . . The Marriage License
5 . . . Date: 1/1/43 . . . pg 62 . . . Freedom From Fear
4 . . . Date: 8/30/47 . . . pg 64 . . . The Outing, Coming and Going
5 . . . Date: 9/25/54 . . . pg 70 . . . Breaking Home Ties
4 . . . Date: 1/1/47 . . . pg 71 . . . Gone Fishing
4 . . . Date: 7/23/27 . . . pg 81 . . . Pioneer, "Charles Lindbergh"
4 . . . Date: 5/16/67 . . . pg 82 . . . New Kids in the Neighborhood
5 . . . Date: 11/5/49 . . . pg 84 . . . New TV Antenna Set
5 . . . Date: 12/29/56 . . . pg 85 . . . The Discovery, Bottom Drawer
4 . . . Date: 4/6/46 . . . pg 88 . . . Charwomen in Theater
4 . . . Date: 12/15/34 . . . pg 89 . . . Tiny Tim and Bob Cratchit
4 . . . Date: 8/3/29 . . . pg 90 . . . Fishing
5 . . . Date: 6/4/21 . . . pg 93 . . . No Swimming
5 . . . Date: 1/1/47 . . . pg 94 . . . Leaf Raking
4 . . . Date: 1/1/47 . . . pg 95 . . . Dad Skating, son watching
4 . . . Date: 12/25/48 . . . pg 97 . . . Homecoming
5 . . . Date: 4/29/50 . . . pg 100 . . . Shuffleton's Barber Shop
4 . . . Date: 5/29/26 . . . pg 102 . . . Ben Franklin
4 . . . Date: 5/30/36 . . . pg 105 . . . The Spring Tonic
5 . . . Date: 1/1/43 . . . pg 110 . . . Freedom From Want
5 . . . Date: 1/1/56 . . . pg 112 . . . Scouts - The Scoutmaster
5 . . . Date: 9/2/39 . . . pg 116 . . . Marbles Champion
5 . . . Date: 8/16/47 . . . pg 116 . . . The High Diver
4 . . . Date: 8/11/45 . . . pg 119 . . . The Swimming Hole
4 . . . Date: 3/6/54 . . . pg 120 . . . Girl At Mirror
4 . . . Date: 2/13/60 . . . pg 125 . . . Triple Self Portrait
5 . . . Date: 1/1/43 . . . pg 128 . . . Freedom of Speech
4 . . . Date: 4/29/44 . . . pg 130 . . . Armchair General
5 . . . Date: 11/24/45 . . . pg 131 . . . Thanksgiving: Mother and Son
5 . . . Date: 5/26/45 . . . pg 132 . . . Homecoming GI
5 . . . Date: 10/13/45 . . . pg 133 . . . Homecoming Marine, The War Hero
4 . . . Date: 12/15/45 . . . pg 134 . . . An Imperfect Fit
5 . . . Date: 4/17/54 . . . pg 149 . . . The Choirboy
5 . . . Date: 1/1/50 . . . pg 154 . . . Scouts - Our Heritage
4 . . . Date: 4/1/61 . . . pg 155 . . . The Golden Rule, Do Unto Others
5 . . . Date: 1/1/43 . . . pg 158 . . . Freedom of Worship
5 . . . Date: 11/24/51 . . . pg 159 . . . Saying Grace, Thanksgiving
After Rockwell past away, the writer in this book visited Rockwell's home town in Vermont. He was impressed with the sincerity of the real friends of Norman. He talked to many townspeople that were models for Rockwell in his paintings. Couple of anecdotes: Rockwell would buy used clothing for his models to wear to assure the real textures came through when he painted. Rockwell had a piece of land across from someone in town that he refused to let loggers harvest simply so this friend could see the birches out his window the rest of his life.
The faith theme of this book resonated in Norman Rockwell's illustrations. The faith in America.
1. Faith in our Friends and Neighbors
2. Faith in our Loved Ones
3. Faith in our Hopes and Dreams
4. Faith in our Traditions
5. Faith in our Selves
6. Faith in our Country
7. Faith in our God
This is a well chosen collection with text throughout the book by Fred Bauer. Slightly oversize book. Excellent full-page reproductions of all prints. The text highlights some basic points about each and every one of the illustrations.
"For millions upon millions of Americans who judge art on how it makes them feel ... Rockwell is the best of them all, bar none, hands down, no contest."
"From the beginning there was no question he was good; he worked hard at his calling and he succeeded. From the Christmas cards he was commissioned to do for Mrs. Arnold Constable at age 16, to art editor of Boy's Life at 19, to cover illustrator for the Saturday Evening Post at 22, Rockwell's climb was meteoric, and he did it on his own.
"Some say Rockwell was born to illustrate World War II." (from the home-front perspective)
Try Norman Rockwell's World War II: Impression from the Homefront
I personally have 26 volumes of Rockwell prints, containing 613 different illustrations. I have my own 1-5 rating of his illustrations. This book is my 4th best at collecting my favorites:
1) 332 Magazine Covers contains 70 of my 4* and 5* favorites
2) Norman Rockwell contains 63 of my 4* and 5* favorites
3) Norman Rockwell's World of Scouting contains 56 of my 4* and 5* favorites
4) This book contains 53 of my 4* and 5* favorites (111 total prints in this book)
Here are my 4* and 5* Favorites in this book:
1-5 Rate . . . Date . . . Page . . . Title
5 . . . Date: 10/1/27 . . . pg 2 . . . The Stay at Homes
4 . . . Date: 1/11/47 . . . pg 6 . . . Piano Tuner
4 . . . Date: 2/10/62 . . . pg 19 . . . Lincoln for the Defense
5 . . . Date: 5/20/22 . . . pg 22 . . . Radio Listeners
4 . . . Date: 1/1/68 . . . pg 23 . . . Scouts - Scouting is Outing
4 . . . Date: 1/1/45 . . . pg 24 . . . War News; Listening for the Invasion of D-day
5 . . . Date: 3/9/29 . . . pg 34 . . . Doctor and Doll
5 . . . Date: 3/15/58 . . . pg 37 . . . Doctor's Office, Before the Shot
4 . . . Date: 4/12/47 . . . pg 38 . . . Norman Rockwell visits his Country Doctor
4 . . . Date: 7/9/49 . . . pg 40 . . . Traffic Conditions
4 . . . Date: 9/20/58 . . . pg 41 . . . The Runaway
5 . . . Date: 5/29/43 . . . pg 49 . . . Rosie the Riveter
4 . . . Date: 8/24/54 . . . pg 50 . . . Home Plate
4 . . . Date: 4/24/26 . . . pg 53 . . . Boy/Girl Gaze at Moon (Puppy Love)
4 . . . Date: 9/24/49 . . . pg 57 . . . Before the Date
4 . . . Date: 5/27/57 . . . pg 58 . . . After the Prom
4 . . . Date: 6/11/55 . . . pg 60 . . . The Marriage License
5 . . . Date: 1/1/43 . . . pg 62 . . . Freedom From Fear
4 . . . Date: 8/30/47 . . . pg 64 . . . The Outing, Coming and Going
5 . . . Date: 9/25/54 . . . pg 70 . . . Breaking Home Ties
4 . . . Date: 1/1/47 . . . pg 71 . . . Gone Fishing
4 . . . Date: 7/23/27 . . . pg 81 . . . Pioneer, "Charles Lindbergh"
4 . . . Date: 5/16/67 . . . pg 82 . . . New Kids in the Neighborhood
5 . . . Date: 11/5/49 . . . pg 84 . . . New TV Antenna Set
5 . . . Date: 12/29/56 . . . pg 85 . . . The Discovery, Bottom Drawer
4 . . . Date: 4/6/46 . . . pg 88 . . . Charwomen in Theater
4 . . . Date: 12/15/34 . . . pg 89 . . . Tiny Tim and Bob Cratchit
4 . . . Date: 8/3/29 . . . pg 90 . . . Fishing
5 . . . Date: 6/4/21 . . . pg 93 . . . No Swimming
5 . . . Date: 1/1/47 . . . pg 94 . . . Leaf Raking
4 . . . Date: 1/1/47 . . . pg 95 . . . Dad Skating, son watching
4 . . . Date: 12/25/48 . . . pg 97 . . . Homecoming
5 . . . Date: 4/29/50 . . . pg 100 . . . Shuffleton's Barber Shop
4 . . . Date: 5/29/26 . . . pg 102 . . . Ben Franklin
4 . . . Date: 5/30/36 . . . pg 105 . . . The Spring Tonic
5 . . . Date: 1/1/43 . . . pg 110 . . . Freedom From Want
5 . . . Date: 1/1/56 . . . pg 112 . . . Scouts - The Scoutmaster
5 . . . Date: 9/2/39 . . . pg 116 . . . Marbles Champion
5 . . . Date: 8/16/47 . . . pg 116 . . . The High Diver
4 . . . Date: 8/11/45 . . . pg 119 . . . The Swimming Hole
4 . . . Date: 3/6/54 . . . pg 120 . . . Girl At Mirror
4 . . . Date: 2/13/60 . . . pg 125 . . . Triple Self Portrait
5 . . . Date: 1/1/43 . . . pg 128 . . . Freedom of Speech
4 . . . Date: 4/29/44 . . . pg 130 . . . Armchair General
5 . . . Date: 11/24/45 . . . pg 131 . . . Thanksgiving: Mother and Son
5 . . . Date: 5/26/45 . . . pg 132 . . . Homecoming GI
5 . . . Date: 10/13/45 . . . pg 133 . . . Homecoming Marine, The War Hero
4 . . . Date: 12/15/45 . . . pg 134 . . . An Imperfect Fit
5 . . . Date: 4/17/54 . . . pg 149 . . . The Choirboy
5 . . . Date: 1/1/50 . . . pg 154 . . . Scouts - Our Heritage
4 . . . Date: 4/1/61 . . . pg 155 . . . The Golden Rule, Do Unto Others
5 . . . Date: 1/1/43 . . . pg 158 . . . Freedom of Worship
5 . . . Date: 11/24/51 . . . pg 159 . . . Saying Grace, Thanksgiving
May 8, 2022
I love love love Norman Rockwell. This beautiful book includes dozens of giant, high-resolution reproductions of his paintings and Saturday Evening Post covers with a loose uniting theme of faith in America (hence the title). His depictions of everyday life in mid-20th-century America are mesmerizing. Rockwell's appreciation and admiration of his country are entirely out of fashion of course, but I have always been prone to nostalgia and a huge sucker for this sort of thing. I find his pictures hopeful and fun and affectionate and poignant, and if that makes me a philistine, I don't mind a bit.
June 1, 2019
Lots of print/pictures. But many are smaller, even though they were Post Covers. I thought multiple dates under pix's were wrong. Quality of print not nearly as good as other Rockwell books. Haven't read all the text yet. Lots of text.
September 11, 2020
Lovely fat book, adequately sized photos. Many favorites of mine. Love dipping in at night just before bed.
January 14, 2021
I have owned this book for years and have enjoyed looking at the illustrations by Norman Rockwell, one of my favorite artists; but had not really read the text by Fred Bauer. Written after Rockwell's death and based on interviews with his widow, friends, and neighbors, Bauer pulls together a number of Rockwell's most iconic illustrations to show us how Americans see the world through their faith. Faith in our friends and neighbors. Faith in our loved ones. Faith in our hopes and dreams. Faith in our traditions. Faith in ourselves. Faith in our country. Faith in God. The text is an easy Sunday afternoon read and, of course, the paintings are wonderful; most of which take up the full page of the oversize book. This book will go back on my shelf ready for another time when I need a little boost in my faith.
August 7, 2012
Amazon.com Review
There is no mistaking a Norman Rockwell painting. His knack for capturing honest folk in the nostalgic light of a simpler America made him one of the most beloved artists of his time, creating instant recognition for his popular illustrations. Some might scoff at the now long-faded idealism that informed his canvases, but for many Americans Rockwell's work has come to symbolize the heart and soul of a more sympathetic society, one free from the condescending sneer of cynicism. Fred Bauer, author of this well-researched and extensive collection is definitely one of the deceased painter's most informed and ardent champions. Included here are the pieces he believes represent the, "more inspirational illustrations, the ones that lifted spirits and filled doubting hearts with hope and faith." Accordingly, he groups them in chapters addressing specific types of faith, such as the kind found in loved ones, traditions, country, etc., and Bauer's text offers much more than simple description. He takes us on a journey to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, Rockwell's immortalized home town, where he meets with the painter's widow, searches out former models, and chats up the local folks who knew Rockwell not as a maker of lasting icons, but as a friend and neighbor. With careful attention and thoughtful insight he has created a kind of written portrait that offers a level of understanding and appreciation for the artist that can only add to the enjoyment shared by Rockwell's countless admirers. --George Laney
Product DescriptionMore than one hundred heartwarming illustrations, many in full color, by the acclaimed artist offer an inspirational portrait of uniquely American towns, families, traditions, and more, all captured with Rockwell's trademark understanding of everyday human existence.
May 16, 2012
While I appreciate the glimpse the author gives into Norman Rockwell the person, and the beauty he reveals in Rockwell's art, I didn't particularly enjoy his style. It focuses more on the author (Bauer) than the topic (Rockwell).
June 28, 2007
What needs to be said about this man's art that hasn't already been said?
October 27, 2008
Norman Rockwell is one of my favorite artists. I had fun reading a bit about his life in this book.
October 14, 2017
Norman liked people and it showed on all his paintings as subtle observations, sense of humor, and strong belief in humanity. His choices of props, poses, and facial expressions were superb.
April 5, 2020
Rockwell is a wonderful craftsman and this book in particular brings me comfort when I'm feeling the world fall apart around me.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews