Illustrators of Light: Rockwell, Wyeth, and Parrish from the Edison Mazda Collection

November 23, 2024 to January 4, 2026

The Norman Rockwell Museum is honored to present a rare series of early twentieth century lighting advertisements by Norman Rockwell and fellow Golden Age illustrators Maxfield Parrish, N.C. Wyeth, Dean Cornwell, Stanley Arthurs, Worth Brehm, and Charles Chambers created for Edison Mazda Lamps, a division of the General Electric Company. These luminous, richly painted works were widely circulated in published advertisements through the 1920s and are on loan to the Museum for the first time through the generosity of GE Aerospace.    

Krug

Norman Rockwell (1894–1978))
All’s Right Says the Light– Sweethearts, 1922
Advertising illustration for Edison Mazda Lamps
Oil on canvas
Collection of GE Aerospace

In 1920, the young but accomplished illustrator Norman Rockwell was commissioned by General Electric to create a series of paintings for their Edison Mazda Lamp Works division to be used to advertise tungsten filament light bulbs. The company had patented their version of the tungsten bulb in 1906 and strove to replace carbon filament bulbs with the more dependable and brighter product. First introduced in 1909, Edison Mazda’a moniker was inspired by the work of Thomas Edison, who built his first high resistance, incandescent electric light in 1879, and by Ahura Mazda, the ancient Persian god associated with wisdom and light.   

Rockwell worked with Bruce Barton of Barton, Durstine & Osborn (now BBDO) on the project, a New York agency commissioned by General Electric to market Edison Mazda bulbs through a series of ads emphasizing the virtues of electric light. Barton’s poetic copy and emotive imagery created by Rockwell and other artists was synthesized to convey the beauty, wonder, and life-changing qualities of light, making the campaign an unequivocal success.  

Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966)
Edison Mazda Lamps, 1924
Advertising illustration for Edison Mazda Lamps
Oil in panel
Collection of GE Aerospace

IMAGES

Charles Chambers (1883–1941)
The Magic that Makes Houses Homes, 1921
Advertising illustration for Edison Mazda Lamps
Oil on canvas mounted on board
Collection of GE Aerospace

N.C. Wyeth (1882–1945)
The Torch Race, 1936
Calendar illustration for Edison Mazda Lamps
Oil on canvas
Collection of GE Aerospace

Dean Cornwell (1892–1960)
Lighting the First Incandescent Lamp, Edison’s Laboratory, Menlo Park, New Jersey, 1940
Calendar illustration for Edison Mazda Lamps
Oil on canvas
Collection of GE Aerospace

RELATED EVENTS

Sharing Light: Exhibition Opening & Holiday Reception

December 6 @ 5:00 pm EST - 7:00 pm EST

Curatorial Gallery Tour– See the Light: From Maxfield Parrish to Norman Rockwell

December 21 @ 11:30 am EST

PRESS

Norman Rockwell Museum presents a rare series of Edison Mazda Lamps advertising illustrations by Rockwell, Parrish, Wyeth, and other Golden Age artists

Stockbridge, MA—October 17, 2024—Norman Rockwell Museum is honored to present Illustrators of Light: Rockwell, Wyeth, and Parrish from the Edison Mazda Collection, an exhibition featuring a rare series of paintings created to illustrate early twentieth-century lighting advertisements. This special exhibition highlights the artworks of Rockwell and fellow Golden Age illustrators Maxfield Parrish, N.C. Wyeth, Dean Cornwell, Stanley Arthurs, Worth Brehm, and Charles Chambers. On view from November 23, 2024, through January 4, 2026, Illustrators of Light: The Edison Mazda Collection celebrates the innovative spirit of Edison Mazda Lamps (a division of General Electric) through luminous artworks exalting the warmth and impact of incandescent light. Sixteen original works, including eight by Rockwell, are on loan for the first time through the generosity of GE Aerospace and were previously displayed privately at Nela Park, the headquarters for General Electrics Lighting division in Cleveland, Ohio.

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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 Spring 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
Rockwell’s Studio Tour:
(20-minute tours/$5)		 Free + $5 + $5 Free + $5 + $5
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

Rockwell’s Studio Tour:
(20-minute tour/$5)
Members, Children, & Active Military: FREE
Adults: $5
Seniors & Retired Military: $5
College Students: $5

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.