Customer Reviews

Best Of Norman Rockwell: A Celebration Of 100 Years

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
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2 star:		(1)
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I recently received a copy of this book and found the quality of the prints very poor indeed. Printed in China, they are grainy, at times out of focus and with limited colors on some at least. A few plates are convincing but not many. This a book reminiscent of the art books printed in the sixties and seventies with analogue printing technology. Given the quantum leaps in digital printing techniques during the last ten years, this is just unforgivable. Disappointed that Tom Rockwell let this pass as a book on his father's wonderful work.

For many years the art world shunned the 'illustrations' of artist Norman Rockwell, suggesting that his work was commercial and created for the sole purpose of public consumption. But the tables have turned. Rockwell's prodigious output (primarily for the covers of now defunct Saturday Evening Post Magazine) chronicled a time in America in the pre and post World War II tenor and captured the spirit of the country's citizens in humor, nostalgia, celebration and insight in a manner that in many ways held the country together.

Rockwell's many paintings are generously sampled in Rockwell's son's fine book, sharing over 150 works by one of the finest draughtsman and commentators before the public. Now museums clamor for his works and touring shows reveal that Norman Rockwell was indeed a truly fine craftsman and poet. His paintings show life as we would have our memories believe it could be, was, or remembered. Many of the included works are now American icons, but it is the sharing of the less well-known works that makes this volume special.

This is a fine monograph of an under appreciated artist whose time has come. It is a joy to read and share, and mixed with the nostalgia is the reassuring knowledge that times CAN change - a message we all need at present. Recommended. Grady Harp, December 05

I had hankered after a good book on Norman Rockwell for years. I think out of all the books available on the artist Norman Rockwell this has to be one of the very best. While other books have gone for quantity rather than quality, using plenty of black and white pictures to fill them out, this one has quality and colour with many of MY favourite pictures whilst also showing plenty of black and white preliminary sketches. It is wonderful. And the speedy delivery from Amazon has fulfilled a big gap in my "library".

This is my first Norman Rockwell artbook, and wow... after years of his inspiration I have to say this book gives one of the best Rockwell prints you can get out there.
The pages are printed on excellent glossy photo paper, and the images are all vibrating. Some paintings are revised in photography, so you don't get the same old yellowish rusty image from the 1970s reference.
If you simply is a Norman Rockwell fan or know someone who is a painter... I would say this book is the best there is. it contains a section of sketches - portraits, painting sketch, brainstorm ideas...etc. And the chapters are separated according to his years of career, from the early 1920s to the late 1960s...

This large format book is very well illustrated in both colour and monochrome. There are 100 plates of which all but two are in full colour, in addition the are about a further 60 monochrome illustrations; the majority of these monochromes are reproductions of pencil or charcoal drawings or sketches. Most interestingly the section of plates is arranged chronologically, providing a good visual record of the artist's progress spanning many years from around 1914 to the 1970s. Covering a period from a time when the automobile was a rarity to the landing of man on the moon, the work also chronicles a society in change.

The text is disappointingly very minimal, restricted to the Preface, two and a half pages about the artist's life and career by Tom Rockwell, the artist's son; there is almost as much information on the dust jacket! There is no index or any further information.

Beautifully illustrated with a broad spectrum of Rockwell's output, The Best of Norman Rockwell includes the very familiar, the less familiar and the never before seen. However I feel the presentation could have been considerably better, especially for an artist whose work was intended predominantly for the printed page. The typography for the Preface is crude, and the yellow background and clumsy layout for the thirty pages of monochromes do nothing by way of enhancement. These failings cheapen what might have been a true quality production.

This book showcases the best Norman Rockwell art. The art is presented in chronological order, showing art lovers the journey of Norman Rockwell's artistic creativity - from the whimsical art of his early years to his political commentaries in the 1960s. Definitely a good bang for your buck. Buy it!

Ive bought a few Rockwell books recently and must say this has the best color reproduction of any I have recieved so far. I must add that different shades of printing reveal different details of the pictures but this one contains my favorite balance. It also includes many works we may not have seen due to the family ties of the author. I only wish it was a bigger collection. Fantastic.I will have to visit the Rockwell museum in Stockbridge sometime.

Although I didn't grow up with Rockwell's illustrations (I'm Belgian and too young), I really like his art. It's so human and non-snobbish (unlike many other art), and many of his pieces make me smile. I discovered one of his illustrations on a French webshop for posters, started some research and found this book. I think it's a very nice edition, although I do miss some of his work, which is not in the book. A 'best of' is always subjective...

Book was in great condition. I enjoyed looking through the pages at the historical paintings by Rockwell. You can't beat it for the price.

I was looking for one particular illustration of Mr. Rockwells':this book did not happen to contain the one I was looking for.

However I thoroughly enjoyed it. I keep it out on the end table, and the family and all visitors, regardless of what they say about Rockwell, will look at it. And enjoy it, admit it or not.

An excellent book by a great American artist!