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On Top of the World by Norman Rockwell

This stunning oil on canvas by Norman Rockwell embodies the iconic artist at his best
Created for the cover of Ladies' Home Journal in 1928, it evokes the wonder of young love
The vibrant colors and meticulous detail reveal Rockwell's technical and narrative mastery
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$1,850,000

Item No. 32-2296

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Description

Norman Rockwell
1894-1978 | American

On Top of the World

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

Norman Rockwell captured the heart of America like no other, and this masterpiece embodies the iconic artist at his best. The stunningly vibrant oil, On Top of the World, was created for the cover of Ladies' Home Journal in 1928—one of only two covers the artist ever did for this popular magazine. Masterfully executed and profoundly heartwarming, this extraordinary painting is a rare treasure of American art.

The painting shines with the universal wonder of young love. Two bright-eyed figures sit amidst the clouds on top of a globe, bringing the age-old saying to life. The composition is quintessential Rockwell—tender, witty and heartwarming. The extraordinarily vibrant colors and precise details reveal Rockwell’s technical mastery and his unmatched ability to bring a stirring, relatable narrative to life in a single frame.

When Ladies’ Home Journal published this Rockwell cover in 1928, it reached over two million American households and had an advertising volume second only to the Saturday Evening Post. Rockwell's most famous works by far are those that he created for magazine covers like this one, defining the visual identity of the nation for generations.

This important Rockwell masterpiece also once belonged to the distinguished collection of Harry Abrams, the legendary American publisher and art collector. While in his collection, the painting was prominently featured in the 1972-73 major exhibition of Rockwell’s work, Norman Rockwell: A Sixty Year Retrospective, which traveled to nine museums nationwide. Importantly, On Top of the World will also be included in the upcoming exhibition, American Stories: From Revolution to Rockwell, at the Norman Rockwell Museum in 2026.

Throughout his prolific career, Norman Rockwell was not just a celebrated illustrator but a national institution. His talent for finding meaning in everyday moments earned him immense acclaim, from five presidential portrait commissions to high-profile collectors including Steven Spielberg and George Lucas—all culminating in the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977, the highest honor for an American citizen. Rockwell's work belongs to prestigious museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Portrait Gallery and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and there is an entire museum dedicated to Rockwell's legacy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

Painted 1928

Canvas: 32 1/2” high x 24 1/2” wide (82.6 x 62.2 cm)
Frame: 41 1/4” high x 33 1/4” wide x 3” deep (104.8 x 84.5 x 7.6 cm)

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Provenance:
Harry N. Abrams, Inc., New York
Private collection, acquired circa 1990s
Private collection, by descent

Literature:
Ladies' Home Journal, April 1928, cover illustration
C. Finch, Norman Rockwell's America, New York, 1975, p. 89, fig. 99, illustrated
C. Finch, Norman Rockwell: 332 Magazine Covers, New York, 1979, p. 35, illustrated (as Top of the World)
L.N. Moffatt, Norman Rockwell: A Definitive Catalogue, vol. I, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, 1986, p. 34, no. C87, illustrated (as On Top of the World (Young Couple Seated on Globe))

Exhibited:
Norman Rockwell: A Sixty Year Retrospective, February 11, 1972-April 15, 1973, p. 63, illustrated; this exhibition traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Fort Lauderdale Museum of the Arts; Brooklyn, New York, Brooklyn Museum; Washington, D.C., Corcoran Gallery of Art; San Antonio, Texas, Marion Koogler McNay Art Institute; San Francisco, California, M.H. De Young Memorial Museum; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Art Center; Indianapolis, Indiana, Indianapolis Museum of Art; Omaha, Nebraska, Joslyn Museum of Art; Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum
This painting is scheduled to be included in the exhibition, American Stories: From Revolution to Rockwell, at the Norman Rockwell Museum from June 2026 through October 2026

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Specifications

Maker:	Rockwell, Norman
Period:	1919-Present
Origin:	America
Type:	Paintings
Style:	Modernism
Depth:	3.0 in. (7.62 cm)
Width:	33.25 in. (84.46 cm)
Height:	41.25 in. (104.78 cm)
Canvas Width:	24.500 in. (62.23 cm)
Canvas Height:	32.500 in. (82.55 cm)

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At M.S. Rau, we are committed to building a long-term, rewarding relationship with each and every client. That’s why your purchase is backed by our 125% guarantee.

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