Freedom of Worship (Norman Rockwell) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Freedom of Worship |
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or Freedom to Worship |
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| Artist | Norman Rockwell |
| Year | 1943 |
| Medium | oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 116.8 cm × 90 cm (46 in × 35.5 in) |
| Location | Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, Massachusetts United States |
Freedom of Worship is a famous painting by Norman Rockwell. It is one of four paintings in his series called the Four Freedoms. Rockwell was inspired to create these artworks after hearing the Four Freedoms Speech by American President Franklin D. Roosevelt on January 6, 1941. This speech talked about important rights everyone should have.
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About the Painting
This painting shows people from different backgrounds praying together. It highlights the idea that everyone should be free to practice their own religion. Rockwell wanted to show people of various faiths worshiping peacefully side-by-side.
Where It Was First Seen
Freedom of Worship was first shown to the public in The Saturday Evening Post magazine on February 27, 1943. It appeared alongside an essay by Will Durant. The other paintings in the Four Freedoms series were also published in different issues of the magazine. These other paintings are Freedom of Speech, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear.
How Rockwell Created It
Norman Rockwell tried several ideas before finishing this painting. Earlier versions showed people in a barbershop, each from a different religious or racial background. However, Rockwell found it hard to clearly show what a person's religion looked like.
He finally decided on a more neutral setting. This allowed him to show people of different races worshiping in their own way. He used his Vermont neighbors as models for the people in the painting.
The Four Freedoms Tour
After they were finished, the Four Freedoms paintings went on a tour across the United States. The tour's main message was Buy War Bonds. War bonds were a way for people to lend money to the government to help pay for World War II.
Many people came to see the paintings. About 1.2 million Americans viewed the artworks during the tour. This effort helped collect a large amount of money, around 132 million dollars, for the war.
Where to See It Today
Today, the Freedom of Worship painting can be found at the Norman Rockwell Museum. This museum is located in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
