Massachusetts

Tour Norman Rockwell’s Studio at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA

Norman Rockwell’s Studio at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA serves as a meaningful tribute to one of America’s most beloved artists.

By Lori Pedrick

Mar 28 2022

norman-rockwell-studio-inside

Norman Rockwell’s Studio

Photo Credit : Lori Pedrick

Please note that many establishments throughout New England have closed, temporarily closed, or may be operating under modified conditions in response to the COVID-19 health crisis. Please travel responsibly, and check with state guidelines and individual businesses before making travel plans.


Norman Rockwell created art in some 20 studios during his life, but it was the last one—seen here—that he called his “best studio yet.” The building was originally located in the backyard of his home on South Street in Stockbridge, MA. In 1976, toward the end of his life, Rockwell left the studio and its contents to Norman Rockwell Museum. The building was cut in two and moved to the Museum’s grounds in 1986.

For many years, the museum presented the studio as it was when Rockwell died. Now, they’ve turned back the clock to October 1960, an active time in Rockwell’s career when he was hard at work on Golden Rule, the famous painting which would later appear on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post.

Working from a set of highly detailed photos, the curators of the installation at the Norman Rockwell Museum, called A Day in the Life, applied the same attention to detail to their task that Rockwell did to his. From the books on his shelves to the radio in the corner and even the scribbled notes tacked to his wall, they’ve returned every aspect of the room to the way it was at that moment in time, in the hope that the details will provide some greater insight into the artist and his work.

A Visual Tour of Norman Rockwell’s Studio at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts

Norman Rockwell's Studio
Norman Rockwell’s Studio at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
Photo Credit : Lori Pedrick
Norman Rockwell's Studio
Prominently on display is one of Rockwell’s most famous paintings, Golden Rule.
Photo Credit : Lori Pedrick
Norman Rockwell's Studio
Artwork on display in Norman Rockwell’s studio.
Photo Credit : Lori Pedrick
Norman Rockwell's Studio
The studio enjoyed lots of natural sunlight.
Photo Credit : Lori Pedrick
Norman Rockwell's Studio
A special peek into Norman Rockwell’s Stockbridge studio.
Photo Credit : Lori Pedrick
Norman Rockwell's Studio
Paints and brushes in Norman Rockwell’s studio.
Photo Credit : Lori Pedrick
Norman Rockwell's Studio
Rockwell used photographs of human models (many Stockbridge residents) while painting.
Photo Credit : Lori Pedrick
Norman Rockwell's Studio
Tools of the trade in Norman Rockwell’s studio.
Photo Credit : Lori Pedrick
Norman Rockwell's Studio
Photographs of the artist at work, and the movement of the studio to the museum site.
Photo Credit : Lori Pedrick
Norman Rockwell's Studio
You can’t help but feel that Rockwell himself would have approved of the studio’s new home…and views.
Photo Credit : Lori Pedrick

Have you ever visited Norman Rockwell’s Studio at the Norman Rockwell Museum?

Norman Rockwell Museum. 9 Route 183, Stockbridge, Massachusetts. 413-298-4100; nrm.org

LEARN MORE:
Norman Rockwell Trivia | New England By the Numbers
Visiting Stockbridge and the Norman Rockwell Museum

This post was first published in 2016 and has been updated.