London Stagecoach by Norman Rockwell

Norman Rockwell
1894-1978 | American

London Stagecoach (Merrie Christmas)

Signed "Norman Rockwell" (lower right)
Oil on canvas

To have an artwork featured on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post was the ultimate achievement for illustrators and demanded their highest artistry. For Norman Rockwell, this platform was transformative; he poured his genius into each cover and captured the essence of American life—reaching millions before the era of mass media. These covers made him an icon, and this rare original oil on canvas, London Stagecoach (Merrie Christmas), was one such cover of The Saturday Evening Post on December 5, 1925.

In 1906, after seeing their young son Norman sketch Scrooge from A Christmas Carol, Mr. and Mrs. Rockwell chose to support his wish to attend art school—a decision that would shape American culture. Christmas would become one of Rockwell's most cherished themes, and he is credited with defining the public's vision of an American Christmas. Of all 323 of his Post covers, 27 feature Christmas scenes, resonating with a warmth and family spirit that 20th-century America craved. Rockwell gave the world endearing images of glowing hearths, jolly Santas, mistletoe and bustling department stores, encapsulating the season’s magic.

This painting holds particular significance, as it was part of Rockwell's decades-long Dickens-themed Christmas series that he pitched to the editor of the Post in 1920. Bundled against the winter cold, the stagecoach’s driver and the little boy in London Stagecoach are certainly set in 19th-century Dickensian London. The little boy specifically recalls the figure of Tiny Tim from Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the story that launched Rockwell’s career. His eager anticipation of the holidays is palpable, holding his mother’s gift as warm light spills over the carriage. From the holly in the driver’s hat to the intricate detailing of the young boy's carpet bag, every element captures Rockwell at his most festive and inspired.

Rockwell achieved remarkable success throughout his career and remains one of the most coveted 20th-century artists of all time. In 1977, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom—the nation’s highest civilian honor—for his unmatched talent in capturing the details of everyday American life. His works, reflecting the essence of the American spirit, remain relatable and moving to this day. Rockwell’s art is featured in prestigious institutions such as the Smithsonian in Washington D.C., the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA. 

Painted 1925

Canvas: 34" high x 26 1/2" wide (86.36 x 67.31 cm)
Frame: 46 1/4" high x 27 1/2" wide x 2 3/4" deep (114.94 x 95.25 x 6.99 cm)

Provenance:
Morton Humphrey
Private Collection
M.S. Rau, New Orleans

Literature:
Laurie Norton Moffatt, Norman Rockwell: A Definitive Catalogue, vol. I (Stockbridge, Massachusetts, 1986), no. C271, p. 102-103, illustrated