Working on the Statue of Liberty by Norman Rockwell, July 6, 1946
Happy 4th of July!
These patriotic covers will help you get in the spirit. One original resides in the Oval Office today, and the others show a variety of ways to celebrate the holiday – not all of which we can recommend.
Family Portrait on the Fourth – John Falter – July 5, 1952
Family Portrait on the Fourth
John Falter
July 5, 1952
Everybody say cheese now…time for the annual family portrait. The photographer will have to make do with a smile here, a grimace there and at least one wayward boy determined to make a dopey face. Forget Uncle Tubby on the porch eating another piece of cake and cousin Billy to the far right of the porch about to shake things up with a firecracker. Hmmm, it may be an interesting photo after all.
Fourth of July, 1911 – J.C. Leyendecker – July 1, 1911
Fourth of July, 1911
J.C. Leyendecker
July 1, 1911
We cannot wholeheartedly recommend this method of celebrating the 4th of July. In this 1911 cover by artist J.C. Leyendecker, the little scamp decides to surprise the neighborhood policeman. We repeat: not a good idea.
Civil War Vet on Fourth of July – Norman Rockwell – July 2, 1921
Civil War Vet on Fourth of July
Norman Rockwell
The Country Gentleman
July 2, 1921
A protégé of Leyendecker, one Norman Rockwell, followed suit with an older noisemaker a decade later. The old veteran decides to shoot his rifle to celebrate the holiday. The Country Gentleman magazine was a sister publication to the Post for many years, and Rockwell did a number covers for them as well.
Fourth of July Picnic – J.C. Leyendecker – July 3, 1915
Fourth of July Picnic
J.C. Leyendecker
July 3, 1915
This charming cover is from 1915. Despite the heat, the family is going to enjoy a holiday picnic. Things may be about to get hotter. That appears to be a bundle of firecrackers the mischievous little boy is carrying.
Two Generations of Vets – Stevan Dohanos – July 5, 1947
Two Generations of Vets
Stevan Dohanos
July 5, 1947
Artist Stevan Dohano’s neighbor was a World War I veteran who was rightfully proud he still fit into his uniform. These veterans of the two world wars were doing what many veterans do on this day – getting ready for the town’s Fourth of July parade.
Working on the Statue of Liberty – Norman Rockwell – July 6, 1946
Working on the Statue of Liberty
Norman Rockwell
July 6, 1946
We called this “Obama’s Rockwell” in a previous Web article, but it hung in the White House for Presidents Clinton and Bush also. It was donated to the White House by an avid Rockwell collector, director Steven Spielberg. The 1946 painting depicted the annual cleaning of the torch’s amber glass so it may shine brighter for freedom lovers everywhere.
Artists
America’s Artist
Covers: Love Hurts
Happy Birthday, Norman Rockwell!
Covers: Celebrating Football
Rockwell in the 1950s – Part I of III
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3 Comments ( Post a Comment )
These are all such great POST covers. I hope the 1911 cover didn’t give any boys the idea to try something like that, or play with firecrackers at all. Certainly if you did have a son with such tendencies, I would have said to my wife “Honey, we both need to keep this week’s POST AWAY from Bobby—look at the cover!”
Far more than a bang-up birthday party, the Fourth of July commemorates that long-awaited arrival of the world’s only true freedom philosophy; forever altering government’s relationship to the governed.
It marks a monumental breakthrough in human affairs, a revolutionary vision of Man’s worth. Our government would absolutely not be allowed–must, at all costs, be deprived of–any form of godhood.
The individual would be left in peace to pursue his own ends–provided, of course, that he use neither force nor fraud attaining them. To him, was given the Divine Right.
As you celebrate this holiday, and share your picnic table feast, do not hesitate to feel genuine joy; know great pride. Yours is a constantly evolving blessing, a blood-bought liberty dearly paid for by millions of mostly unknown benefactors.
You are an American!–no king has ever been honored with a more majestic title.
I have a plate “Portrait On The Fourth” July 5, 1952 – John Falter “The saturday Evening Post” – does it have any value
Thank you