Christmas Homecoming, 1948 Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) Oil on canvas The desire to focus his artistic energy on painting the human condition was so strong that to please his art editor, who urged him to fill his canvases, Rockwell packed his picture with figures until the only remaining background was a foot or so of floor area. With the barest reference to Christmas, Rockwell conveys a festive holiday scene purely through the smiles on all of the faces and a few touches of bright red paint. The entire Rockwell family is in this cast. Son Peter (with eyeglasses) appears in the left corner; son Tom is in the plaid shirt; wife Mary is hugging son Jarvis who has just arrived from school; and Norman is seen on their right. In the upper left corner, good friend and fellow Post illustrator Mead Schaeffer looks on, as does painter Grandma Moses. Behind Peter is Mead Schaeffer's daughter Patty and between Jarvis and Norman, his other daughter Lee. Mary Atherton, daughter of illustrator Jack Atherton (another close friend and neighbor of Rockwell), waves from behind Mary Rockwell. Painting for The Saturday Evening Post cover, December 25, 1948 35.5 x 33.5 inches Norman Rockwell Museum Collection, NRM.1978.10 ©1948 SEPS: Licensed by Curtis Publishing, Indianapolis, IN