The Thanksgiving Painting That Set Norman Rockwell's Auction Record
3 min read · 25 Feb 2025
Saying Grace. Image courtesy of Sotheby's
Norman Rockwell's Saying Grace (1951) sold for $46.09m at Sotheby's New York on December 4, 2013. The oil on canvas work had not been traded before. It was gift to the artist's friend, Ken Stuart, the art editor of The Saturday Evening Post.
One of Rockwell's most popular artworks, Saying Grace first appeared on the cover of The Post’s Thanksgiving issue of 1951. It was one of only four covers inspired by readers' suggestions. Several of the artist’s favorite models posed as the restaurant patrons Rockwell's painstakingly composed image.
Breaking home ties. Image courtesy of Sotheby's
The sale beat Rockwell’s previous auction record by $32.34m, a 225% rise. The previous record was set by Breaking home ties (1954), which sold for $13.75m at Sotheby's on November 29, 2006. The work had been traded once in the past.
A Brief History of Norman Rockwell at Auction
Sale Date | Title | Price | Record Increase | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013-12-04 | Saying Grace | $46.09m | 235 % | Sotheby's | New York |
2006-11-29 | Breaking home ties | $13.75m | 68 % | Sotheby's | New York |
2006-05-24 | Homecoming marine | $8.2m | 82 % | Sotheby's | New York |
2002-05-22 | Rosie the riveter | $4.5m | 429 % | Sotheby's | New York |
1996-05-22 | What Makes It Tick? (The Watchmaker) | $850,000 | 17 % | Sotheby's | New York |
1995-05-25 | After The Prom | $725,000 | 91 % | Sotheby's | New York |
1994-12-01 | The fumble | $380,000 | 3 % | Sotheby's | New York |
1994-05-07 | Man standing at town meeting - 'Freedom of Speech' | $370,000 | 54 % | Illustration House | New York |
1989-12-15 | Merry Christmas Grandma ... we came in our new Plymouth | $240,000 | 4 % | DuMouchelles | Detroit |
1981-04-02 | The homecoming Marine | $230,000 | 254 % | Phillips | New York |
1979-04-20 | The Bookworm (man With Nose In Book) | $65,000 | 8 % | Sotheby's | New York |
1979-03-01 | "In need of sympathy" | $60,000 | 43 % | DuMouchelles | Detroit |
1978-12-08 | Self portrait | $42,000 | 20 % | Christie's | New York |
1978-04-21 | The toy maker | $35,000 | - | Sotheby's | New York |
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