Norman Rockwell

Norman Rockwell
(American, 1894-1978)

Portrait of John P. Orendorff, 1921
graphite on paper laid to board signed Norman Rockwell (lower right)
10 x 8 inches.
From the Estate of Cleonora G. Lang Fine Art signed Norman Rockwell (lower right)
Framed:12 7/8 x 10 7/8 inches.

The drawing at hand is listed as number P104 in the Normal Rockwell Museum - Digital Collection. https://collection.nrm.org/#details=ecatalogue.13969

According to a handwritten note that accompanies the drawing, this portrait was executed in Saranac, New York in 1921. It is unclear how the sitter and artist met, but it may have been when Rockwell acted as art director for Boys’ Life Magazine. The Boy Scouts have a large chapter in Saranac and it is possible that Orendorff was in the area at the same time as Rockwell and they crossed paths. Later in life, John P. Orendorff was the President and Secretary of the Simonson Lumber and Supply Co. in St. Paul, Minnesota.