Among the many press inquiries I have been handling at work this week, reporters have been asking about the upcoming auction of a rare Norman Rockwell painting, Willie Gillis: Package from Home, which was published on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post back in October 4, 1941. Today I even gave an interview to a writer at The Wall Street Journal who wanted to learn more about the painting that will auctioned this Saturday, December 1, at Susanin's Auction House in Chicago.
Willie Gillis was a fictional character that Norman Rockwell created during World War II. The illustrator was looking for a way to use his art to support the war effort, and this was one of his first ideas (he followed it up with The Four Freedoms). The idea was to create a series of illustrations featuring a young army private in humorous situations, that would serve as a reassuring postcard to families waiting for their loved ones during the trying wartime period. 11 of Rockwell's illustrations were published by the Post over a five-year period, culminating in the 1946 painting Willie Gillis in College, which pictured the character back from the war, and starting school courtesy of the G.I. Bill.
During my tenure at Norman Rockwell Museum, I had the opportunity to meet Bob Buck, who was the model for Rockwell's series. A pleasant man who unwittingly became a celebrity, Buck agreed to a couple videotaped interviews through the years, discussing his time working for his famous Arlington, Vermont neighbor. Sadly, last year Mr. Buck passed away-- when I found out, I quickly produced and posted this tribute to the man who inspired Rockwell's best-known, recurring character.
Last night, Chicago PBS-TV station WTTW aired a segment on the upcoming auction of the painting on their show Chicago Tonight. I helped the producer out with some information and photographs related to the painting, and they even used a portion of my interview with Bob Buck in the final segment:
With Rockwell paintings selling for millions of dollars at auction houses in recent years, it will be interesting to see just how far this Willie can run!
Related Links:
"Remembering Norman Rockwell's Willie Gillis," produced by Jeremy Clowe for Norman Rockwell Museum (YouTube)
"Norman Rockwell Painting on Chicago Auction Block," Chicago Tonight, November 27, 2012
"Norman Rockwell Masterpiece Resurfaces After Decades To Be Sold At Auction In Chicago On December 1," PR Newswire, November 12, 2012
"Classic Covers: The All-American Soldier Willie Gillis," The Saturday Evening Post, May 28, 2011
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