Norman Rockwell's The Runaway

 

September 20, 1958 Issue of The Saturday Evening Post

Monday, August 11, 2025   

http://www.best-norman-rockwell-art.com/1958-the-runaway.html

 

Norman Rockwell's The Runaway appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post published September 20, 1958. This is a timeless favorite of Rockwell collectors, a true classic for the ages.

              

This  painting was Rockwell's 302nd overall out of 322 total  paintings featured on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post. Rockwell's career with the Post spanned 47 years, from his first cover illustration, Boy With Baby Carriage in 1916 to his last, Portrait of John F. Kennedy, in 1963.

 

This is also the fourth for The Post in 1958. In 1958, there were five Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post covers published. This was also the 302nd of 322 Rockwell paintings published on the cover of the Post.

 

This painting also appears in five Rockwell commentary books. It appears:

 

on page 167 of The Norman Rockwell Album,

as illustration 83 of  Norman Rockwell's America by Christopher Finch,

as illustration 523 of Norman Rockwell: Artist and Illustrator by Thomas Buechner

on page 41 of 50 Norman Rockwell Favorites

and on page 219 of Norman Rockwell, A Definitive Catalogue by Laurie Norton Moffatt.

It is also reproduced in The Norman Rockwell Poster Book.

 

Studies of this painting also appeared in The Norman Rockwell Album on page 166 and in Norman Rockwell's People by Susan E. Meyer on page 204.

 

A photograph used in painting this illustration is reproduced in Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera by Ron Schick on page 189, as well as the painting itself appearing on page 188.

 

I have seen pristine original copy of this cover still attached to the magazine sell for close to one hundred dollars on eBay. And to think it only cost fifteen cents originally!

 

The original oil on canvas painting, 35.75 inches by 33.5 inches or 91 by 90 cm, and an oil on canvas study for the final version of the painting, 30 x 28 inches or 76 x 71 cm, are part of the collection of the Norman Rockwell Museum Stockbridge Massachusetts.

 

This classic Norman Rockwell painting depicts a policeman and alittle boy sharing the lunch counter at a diner.