Norman Rockwell (American, 1894-1978) Ever Onward, 1960 Oil on canvas 37 x 29 inches (94.0 x 73.7 cm) Signed lower right: Norman / Rockwell Property from the BSA Settlement Trust, Sold for the Benefit of Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse EXHIBITED: National Scouting Museum, Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky, n.d. LITERATURE: Boy Scouts of America Calendar, Brown & Bigelow Co., Saint Paul, Minnesota, 1960, n.p., illustrated; Boys' Life Magazine, The Boy Scouts of America, New York, February 1960, cover; W. Hillcourt, Norman Rockwell's World of Scouting, New York, 1977, pp. 30-31, illustrated; M. Moline, Norman Rockwell Encyclopedia, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1979, pp. 15, 228-29, fig. 8-44, illustrated; L.N. Moffatt, Norman Rockwell: A Definitive Catalogue, Vol. I, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, 1986, p. 285, no. A81, illustrated; J. Csatari, Norman Rockwell's Boy Scouts of America, New York, 2009, pp. 76-77, illustrated. Norman Rockwell's February 1960 Boys' Life cover was produced to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Scouting. In this composition, he departs from the usual naturalistic environments that support his figures, introducing an abstract background that recalls the splattered aesthetic popularized by painters like Jackson Pollock. While Rockwell's imagery is typically grounded in a timeless realism, this example reflects an awareness of contemporary artistic styles, subtly aligning his work with the visual language of mid-century Abstract Expressionism. Despite this modern backdrop, the composition remains structured around a didactic arrangement of figures that articulate the history of the organization. At upper left, a Scout wears the early, military-inspired uniform of 1910, marking the movement's origins, while at right a more mature figure appears in the contemporary Eagle Scout uniform of 1960. Their juxtaposition provides a visual comparison of an evolving identity across five decades. Between them, the scroll bearing the Scout Oath serves as a unifying element, emphasizing the continuity of the organization's foundational principles despite changes in appearance. Below, a Cub Scout contemplates a globe, suggesting the expanding international scope of Scouting. HID12401132022 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice

National Scouting Museum, Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky, n.d.

Condition report available upon request.
Framed Dimensions 47 X 38.5 Inches