Photo of Norman Rockwell’s 1926 painting, “Puppy Love,” on view at Norman Rockwell Museum, February 2015.
This past week Norman Rockwell Museum announced the recent acquisition of Norman Rockwell’s 1926 painting, Boy and Girl Gazing at Moon (Puppy Love) with a public unveiling of the original work on February 13, a day before Valentines Day. An enthusiastic gathering of press, members, and guests had a first-look at the painting, which is currently on view.
Reported in such media outlets as The New York Times, the exhibited painting resulted in three times the normal traffic for the Museum for the holiday weekend. The early Rockwell illustration was created for the April 24, 1926 cover of The Saturday Evening Post and has resurfaced in recent years in the form of tributes and parodies. It was the inspiration for a popular Google Doodle, presented by the web search engine in honor of Rockwell’s birthday on February 3, 2010, resulting in over three million worldwide visits to the Norman Rockwell Museum website.
One of Rockwell’s most iconic images, Puppy Love was generously donated to the Museum as a gift from Bill, Casey, Maggie, Jenny, and Jesse Millis, in honor of Rockwell, “an incredible American.”
Photo of Norman Rockwell Museum Director/CEO Laurie Norton Moffatt at the press conference/unveiling of “Puppy Love,” February 13, 2015. Photo ©Norman Rockwell Museum. All rights reserved.
Press Articles:
“A Charming Valentine’s Gift for the Norman Rockwell Museum,” New York Times, February 12, 2015
“With Love From Previous Owner, Puppy Love Donated To Rockwell Museum,” WAMC Radio, February 13, 2015
“Norman Rockwell Museum Acquires Iconic Puppy Love Painting,” Time Warner Cable News, February 13, 2015
“Norman Rockwell Museum given gift of ‘Puppy Love'” Berkshire Eagle, February 13, 2015
“Rockwell donor wanted to see work back in public view,” Berkshire Eagle, February 13, 2015
“Collector Gifts Normal Rockwell Museum 1926 Original Painting,” iBerkshires, February 13, 2015
“Norman Rockwell Museum acquires iconic painting,” Boston Globe, February 13, 2015
“Iconic Norman Rockwell Painting Donated To Museum,” WBUR Radio, February 17, 2015
Press Release:
“Norman Rockwell Museum Receives Gift of Beloved Norman Rockwell Painting,” February 13, 2015
Museum Store: