Norman Rockwell (American, 1894-1978) A Great Moment, 1965 Oil on canvas 43 x 35 inches (109.2 x 88.9 cm) Signed lower right: norman rockwell Property from the BSA Settlement Trust, Sold for the Benefit of Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse EXHIBITED: Visual Arts Center of Northwest Florida, Panama City, Florida (and elsewhere), "In Search of Norman Rockwell's America," June 12, 2009-September 18, 2011, no. 17. LITERATURE: Boy Scouts of America Calendar, Brown & Bigelow Co., Saint Paul, Minnesota, 1965, n.p., illustrated; Boys' Life Magazine, The Boy Scouts of America, New York, February 1965, cover; W. Hillcourt, Norman Rockwell's World of Scouting, New York, 1977, p. 141, illustrated; M. Moline, Norman Rockwell Encyclopedia, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1979, pp. 15, 228-29, fig. 8-49, illustrated; L.N. Moffatt, Norman Rockwell: A Definitive Catalogue, Vol. I, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, 1986, p. 287, no. A86, illustrated; J. Csatari, Norman Rockwell's Boy Scouts of America, New York, 2009, pp. 86-87, illustrated. Norman Rockwell's A Great Moment captures the solemn and deeply personal ceremony marking the attainment of Scouting's highest honor, the rank of Eagle Scout. The path to Eagle represents the culmination of years of disciplined effort—a Scout must progress through the ranks earning badges, serving in leadership positions within his troop, and completing a meaningful service project benefiting his community. Few achieve this distinction, and Rockwell underscores its rarity and significance by isolating the moment of recognition itself—transforming what might be a public ceremony into an intimate rite of passage. The composition is carefully arranged to emphasize both the boy's individual achievement and the collective support provided by his family and peers. At center, the young Scout stands upright and composed, his uniform adorned with badges earned through years of dedication. To the left, his mother gently affixes the Eagle medal to his chest, her gesture both tender and ceremonial, while his father, standing just behind, observes with quiet pride. At the far right, the boy's Scoutmaster looks on, representing the institutional guidance and moral instruction that shaped the Scout's journey. Behind them, the imposing eagle relief serves as both literal emblem and symbolic presence, reinforcing the gravity of the achievement. Rockwell's arrangement thus unites family, mentorship, and organization within a single frame, presenting the Eagle Scout not as a solitary accomplishment but as the product of a broader community of influence and support. This theme finds resonance across Rockwell's broader body of Scouting imagery, where moments of recognition, transition, and pride recur with notable consistency. Additional works produced for the Boy Scouts of America, such as Mighty Proud (1958) and Homecoming (1961), date to the same period as the present work and similarly depict the emotional culmination of a Scout's efforts—emphasizing the pride of parents and the validation of achievement brought upon the home. Each Scout's progress is no small achievement. A Great Moment stands among Rockwell's most distilled expressions of the virtues embodied in the Eagle Scout rank: perseverance, service, leadership, and moral integrity. Through his precise draftsmanship, Rockwell elevates a singular event into a universal statement on growth and achievement. The painting affirms the ideals of Scouting as both personal and communal, celebrating not only the individual who earns the honor but also the guiding hands—familial, institutional, and moral—that make such a moment possible. HID12401132022 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice

Visual Arts Center of Northwest Florida, Panama City, Florida (and elsewhere), "In Search of Norman Rockwell's America," June 12, 2009-September 18, 2011, no. 17.

Condition report available upon request.
Framed Dimensions 48.5 X 41 Inches