Mystery and Wonder: Highlights From The Illustration Collection

March 2 through June 16, 2024

Explore the captivating worlds of mystery and wonder in this exhibition featuring highlights from the Norman Rockwell Museum’s Permanent Collection, which now holds almost 25,000 illustrations by prominent artists working across genres and time periods. On display are cover art for award-winning novels and mysteries, children’s book illustrations inspired by classic tales, fantastical anthropomorphic drawings, and heart-stopping editorial images.

Thomas Woodruff
The General in His Labyrinth, 1990
Book cover illustration for The General in His Labyrinth by Gabriel García Márquez
Oil on illustration board
Norman Rockwell Museum Collection, Gift of Thomas Woodruff
©Thomas Woodruff. All rights reserved.

Specific selections include Teresa Fasolino’s colorful, clue-filled mystery novel cover illustrations; Thomas Woodruff’s ethereal book jacket art for best-selling novels by Anne Tyler and Gabriel García Márquez; lighthearted visual puns for Stewart Edelstein’s Dubious Doublets by James Grashow; luminous watercolors for The Wizard of Oz and other stories by Thea Kliros; steamy pulp illustrations by Everett Raymond Kinstler and Mort Kunstler; mystical three-dimensional illustrations for books and magazines by Joan Hall; fictional American histories by Julian Allen; a fun and engaging Rockwell Who-Dun-It; and a brand new Rockwell acquisition that offers mysteries of its own.

IMAGES

Teresa Fasolino
Death and the Dancing Footman, 1995
Cover illustration for Death and the Dancing Footman by Ngaio Marsh
Norman Rockwell Museum Collection, Gift of Teresa Fasolino, NRM.2018.16.03
©Teresa Fasolino. All rights reserved.

Joseph Clement Coll (1881-1921)[Burglary], n.d.
Ink on paper
Norman Rockwell Museum Collection, Gift of Richard Kelly/The Kelly Collection of Illustration. NRM.2022.19

Thea Kliros
Dorothy Now Took Toto Up Solemnly in Her Arms, 2010
Illustration for The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Watercolor on paper
Norman Rockwell Museum Collection, Gift of the Kliros Family
© Thea Kliros. All rights reserved.

Norman Rockwell (1894-1978)
Who Dun It? 1948
Color study for Murder Mystery (Who-Dun-It), an unpublished illustration
Oil on photograph on board
Norman Rockwell Museum Collection, NRM.1997.17
© Norman Rockwell Family Agency. All rights reserved.

Boy and Girl Gazing at Moon (Puppy Love)

Joan Hall
Kiss of the Spiderwoman, 1987
Book illustration for Booknotes (New York: Book of the Month Club)
Collage and ink on paper mounted to illustration board
Norman Rockwell Museum Collection, Gift of Joan Hall, NRM.2023.25.09

James Grashow
Feather/Hippopotamus, 2003
Cover and book illustration for “Dubious Doublets” by Stewart Edelstein, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey, 2003, p. 73
Gift of Steward Edelstein
© James Grashow. All rights reserved.

William Heaslip (1898-1970)
Antarctic Expedition, 1930
Cover illustration for Boy’s Life, February 1930
Watercolor on paper
Norman Rockwell Museum Collection, Gift of Robert T. Horvath, NRM.2009.39

Dennis Nolan (1945-2022)
Dinosaur Dream, 1990
Cover illustration for Dinosaur Dream by Dennis Nolan
Watercolor on paper
Norman Rockwell Museum Collection, Gift of Lauren A. Millis in Memory of Dennis Nolan, NRM.2023.26.01

Boy and Girl Gazing at Moon (Puppy Love)
Boy and Girl Gazing at Moon (Puppy Love)

Julian Allen (1942-1998)[Mystery Writers in Jury Box featuring Margaret Miller, Mary Roberts, Patricia Highsmith, Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, and P. D. James], n.d.
Watercolor on paper
Norman Rockwell Museum Collection, Gift of Victoria Allen, NRM.2019.18.0381

Joan Hall with illustration and book jacket
for The Feminization of American Culture by Ann Douglas (New York: Avon Books)
Norman Rockwell Museum Collection, Gift of Joan Hall, NRM.2023.25.26

PRESS

Berkshire Eagle Reviews Mystery and Wonder
Berkshire Eagle art critic Jennifer Huberdeau recently reviewed Mystery and Wonder: Highlights from the Permanent Collection. The article delves into the story and backstory of individual artworks to offer readers a personal “tour” of this intriguing exhibition. Read the full Eagle review here.

“Mystery Unveils at NRM”: BTW Berkshires Review
“This spring, Mystery and Wonder explores Norman Rockwell Museum’s collection of illustrations, taking a broad look at an artform that appears in daily life, said Stephanie Plunkett, chief curator at the Museum. They come in shades of commentary, irony, pleasure and fantasy.” Read the full BTW Berkshires story here.

MEDIA

Artist Talk with Teresa Fasolino
Norman Rockwell Museum

The BFA Cartooning Program at the School of Visual Arts

Virtual Memories #524 – Thomas Woodruff

IllustrationHistory.org

Full Biography  Teresa Fasolino (b. 1946) is a contemporary American illustrator widely known for her detailed, intriguing mystery novel cover illustrations. She has worked for most of the major magazines, publishers, and advertising agencies, constantly honing her particular, recognizable style of illustrative painting. In addition to working in the print media, she has also worked with architects and space designers, creating paintings for restaurants and public areas.

RELATED EVENTS

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VENUE(S)

Norman Rockwell Museum, 9 Glendale Road, Stockbridge, MA 01262

Hours

OPEN
Mon 10am-4pm
Tue 10am-4pm
Thu 10am-4pm
Fri 10am-4pm
Sat 10am-5pm
Sun 10am-5pm

CLOSED
Wednesdays
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
New Year’s Day
ROCKWELL’S STUDIO
Closed for the season.
Opens May 1, 2025

Special Holiday Hours: Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: 10am-2pm.
When attending the Museum, please observe our COVID-19 policies; in addition to Massachusetts Travel Guidelines.

Admissions

There are limited daily tickets for tours of Norman Rockwell’s Studio. It is recommended you purchase your museum admission and studio tour tickets online in advance of your visit.  Museum Visit admission is required for all tours.

Buy Admission

Members Adult Seniors /
Veterans & Military		 Children MA Teachers College
Students
Museum Visit: Free $25 $23 Free $22 $10
Curator Tour:
Original Sisters		 $10 + $20 + $20 Free + $20 + $20
Guided Tour:
Rockwell’s Life & Art
(40 minutes)		 Free +$10 +$10 Free +$10 +$10

There are limited daily tickets for tours of Norman Rockwell’s Studio. It is recommended you purchase your museum admission and studio tour tickets online in advance of your visit.  Museum Visit admission is required for all tours.

Buy Admission

Museum Visit:
Members, Children, & Active Military: FREE
Adults: $25
Seniors & Retired Military: $23
MA Teachers: $22
College Students: $10

Guided Tour:
Rockwell’s Life & Art
(40 minutes) – additional purchase
Members, Children, & Active Military: FREE
Ticket per person: $10

Curator Tour:
Original Sisters
Members: $10
Children: FREE
Adults: $20
Seniors & Active/Retired Military: $20
College Students: $20

Additional Discount Opportunities:

  • Front Line Medical Workers receive free admission.
  • AAA member, NARM member, Stockbridge Resident, and EBT/WIC/ConnectorCare Cardholder discounts available.

For Free and Reduced prices, you may be required to present a valid ID demonstrating your status for qualifying for discounted pricing.

Available Discounts
Kids Free is supported by:
Connector Card is supported by:
Norman Rockwell Museum receives support from:

DIRECTIONS

Norman Rockwell Museum
9 Glendale Road Route 183
Stockbridge, MA 01262
413-931-2221

Download a Printable version of Driving Directions (acrobat PDF).

Important note: Many GPS and online maps do not accurately place Norman Rockwell Museum*. Please use the directions provided here and this map image for reference. Google Maps & Directions are correct! http://maps.google.com/

* Please help us inform the mapping service companies that incorrectly locate the Museum; let your GPS or online provider know and/or advise our Visitor Services office which source provided faulty directions.

Route 7 runs north to south through the Berkshires. Follow Route 7 South to Stockbridge. Turn right onto Route 102 West and follow through Main Street Stockbridge. Shortly after going through town, you will veer to the right to stay on Route 102 West for approximately 1.8 miles. At the flashing light, make a left onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

Route 7 runs north to south through the Berkshires. Follow Route 7 North into Stockbridge. Turn left onto Route 102 West at the stop sign next to The Red Lion Inn. Shortly after you make the left turn, you will veer to the right to stay on Route 102 West for approximately 1.8 miles. At the flashing light, make a left onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

Boston (two-and-a-half hours) or Springfield (one hour):
Take the Ma ssachusetts Turnpike (I-90) West, getting off at exit 10 (formerly exit 2) – Lee. At the light at the end of the ramp turn left onto Route 20 East and then immediately turn right onto Route 102 West. Follow Route 102 West into Stockbridge Center (about five miles). Continue going west on Route 102 (Main St.). Shortly after going through town, you will veer to the right to stay on Route 102 West for approximately 1.8 miles. At the flashing light, make a left onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

from Albany and west: (one hour) Take I-90 east to exit B3 – Route 22. Go south on New York Route 22 to Massachusetts Route 102 East. Stay on Route 102 East through West Stockbridge. Continue on Route 102 East approximately 5.5 miles until you come to a blinking light at the intersection of Route 183. Make a right at the blinking light onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

(two-and-a-half hours) Take either the New York State Thruway or the Taconic State Parkway to I-90 East. Follow I-90 East to exit B3 – Route 22. Go south on New York Route 22 to Massachusetts Route 102 East. Stay on Route 102 East through West Stockbridge. Continue on Route 102 East approximately 5.5 miles until you come to a blinking light at the intersection of Route 183. Make a right at the blinking light onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

(one-and-a-half hours) Take I-91 North to the Massachusetts Turnpike. Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) West, getting off at exit 10 (formerly exit 2) – Lee. At the light at the end of the ramp turn left onto Route 20 East and then immediately turn right onto Route 102 West. Follow Route 102 West into Stockbridge Center (about five miles). Continue going west on Route 102 (Main St.). Shortly after going through town, you will veer to the right to stay on Route 102 West for approximately 1.8 miles. At the flashing light, make a left onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.

(five minutes)
Go west on Route 102 (Main St.). Shortly after going through town, you will veer to the right to stay on Route 102 West for approximately 1.8 miles. At the flashing light, make a left onto Route 183 South and the Museum entrance is 0.6 miles down on the left.