Breaking Home Ties
Encyclopedia
Breaking Home Ties was painted by Norman Rockwell
for the September 25, 1954 cover of The Saturday Evening Post
.
leaves home for the first time. The painting, considered by experts to be one of Norman Rockwell's masterworks, is also one of the most widely reproduced.
The young man and his father sit on the running board of the family's stakesided farm truck. The ticket protruding from the son's pocket, and the single rail visible at the lower corner of the painting, by which the trio sit, suggest that they are at a whistle stop
waiting for the train
.
The son's books are stacked on a new suitcase
bearing a "State U
" pennant
. With his tie and socks perfectly matched, wearing pressed white trousers and matching jacket, he is ready for his new life in college. The young man's shoes are shined to a polished gleam, as, hands folded, and with the family dog resting his head in his lap, his gaze focuses eagerly toward the horizon, and on the next chapter in his life.
In contrast, the father sits slumped with both his and his son's hats clutched in his hand, as if reluctant to let him go. The direction of his gaze is opposite to his son's. His watchchain
dangles, near at hand, from his shirt pocket. There is a red flag and a lantern
at the ready, near his right hand, atop a well-used trunk. With the son's luggage unloaded and waiting next to them, there is nothing left for him to do but signal the train to stop, and his pose suggests that he is looking up the track, dreading the imminent arrival of the train that will carry his son away.
Though the two figures are not looking at each other, the sense of family ties is very strong in the iconic 1954 picture.
in 1955. The painting was also on display in Moscow
and Cairo
in 1964. Since 2003, the painting has been on display at the Norman Rockwell Museum
which, before 2003, was the first public display in over 25 years.
In 1960, the painting was purchased for $900 by Don Trachte
and was in his ownership until his death on May 4, 2005. Ownership and access went to his four children.
The painting was the inspiration for a 1987 TV movie of the same name, featuring Jason Robards
and Doug McKeon respectively as the father and son.
In February 2006, Dave and Don Trachte, Jr., began to search for paintings in their deceased father's home upon coming across a replica
of a painting by George Hughes in their father's studio. They found film in the studio revealing that their father possessed two copies of Breaking Home Ties, with differences that were visibly noticeable. Despite his father stating that he had the painting restored, a professional examination done by the Williamstown Art Conservation Center confirmed that to be false.
On March 16, 2006, Dave and Don found the original painting located in their father's studio located in between a gap in the paneling of a bookcase. In that gap was the original paintings purchased by their father, including the original copy of Breaking Home Ties. On April 6, 2006, the Norman Rockwell Museum
placed the originals along with the replicas to keep on display in their museum.
On November 29, 2006, Sotheby's
sold the painting at auction for $15.4 million, which at the time was a record sum paid for a Rockwell work. The buyer or buyers chose to remain anonymous.
Norman Rockwell
Norman Percevel Rockwell was a 20th-century American painter and illustrator. His works enjoy a broad popular appeal in the United States for their reflection of American culture. Rockwell is most famous for the cover illustrations of everyday life scenarios he created for The Saturday Evening...
for the September 25, 1954 cover of The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post is a bimonthly American magazine. It was published weekly under this title from 1897 until 1969, and quarterly and then bimonthly from 1971.-History:...
.
Description
The details of the picture, as with most Norman Rockwell works, combine to tell a story, in this case a story of endings and beginnings, as a boy from New MexicoNew Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
leaves home for the first time. The painting, considered by experts to be one of Norman Rockwell's masterworks, is also one of the most widely reproduced.
The young man and his father sit on the running board of the family's stakesided farm truck. The ticket protruding from the son's pocket, and the single rail visible at the lower corner of the painting, by which the trio sit, suggest that they are at a whistle stop
Whistle Stop
Whistle Stop is a 1946 movie starring George Raft and Ava Gardner. The film was shot in black and white and in the film noir style. The picture was directed by Léonide Moguy and based on a novel by Maritta M. Wolff...
waiting for the train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
.
The son's books are stacked on a new suitcase
Suitcase
A suitcase is a general term for a distinguishable form of luggage. It is often a somewhat flat, rectangular-shaped bag with rounded/square corners, either metal, hard plastic or made of cloth, vinyl or leather that more or less keeps its shape. It has a carrying handle on one side and is used...
bearing a "State U
State university system
A state university system in the United States is a group of public universities supported by an individual state, or a similar entity such as the District of Columbia. These systems constitute the majority of public-funded universities in the country...
" pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
. With his tie and socks perfectly matched, wearing pressed white trousers and matching jacket, he is ready for his new life in college. The young man's shoes are shined to a polished gleam, as, hands folded, and with the family dog resting his head in his lap, his gaze focuses eagerly toward the horizon, and on the next chapter in his life.
In contrast, the father sits slumped with both his and his son's hats clutched in his hand, as if reluctant to let him go. The direction of his gaze is opposite to his son's. His watchchain
Pocket watch
A pocket watch is a watch that is made to be carried in a pocket, as opposed to a wristwatch, which is strapped to the wrist. They were the most common type of watch from their development in the 16th century until wristwatches became popular after World War I during which a transitional design,...
dangles, near at hand, from his shirt pocket. There is a red flag and a lantern
Lantern
A lantern is a portable lighting device or mounted light fixture used to illuminate broad areas. Lanterns may also be used for signaling, as 'torches', or as general light sources outdoors . Low light level varieties are used for decoration. The term "lantern" is also used more generically to...
at the ready, near his right hand, atop a well-used trunk. With the son's luggage unloaded and waiting next to them, there is nothing left for him to do but signal the train to stop, and his pose suggests that he is looking up the track, dreading the imminent arrival of the train that will carry his son away.
Though the two figures are not looking at each other, the sense of family ties is very strong in the iconic 1954 picture.
History
Breaking Home Ties has been in many historical museums such as the Corcoran Gallery of ArtCorcoran Gallery of Art
The Corcoran Gallery of Art is the largest privately supported cultural institution in Washington, DC. The museum's main focus is American art. The permanent collection includes works by Rembrandt, Eugène Delacroix, Edgar Degas, Thomas Gainsborough, John Singer Sargent, Claude Monet, Pablo...
in 1955. The painting was also on display in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
in 1964. Since 2003, the painting has been on display at the Norman Rockwell Museum
Norman Rockwell Museum
The Norman Rockwell Museum is home to the world's largest collection of original Rockwell art.-History:Founded in 1969, the museum is located in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where Rockwell lived the last 25 years of his life. The museum has been at its current location since 1993. The museum...
which, before 2003, was the first public display in over 25 years.
In 1960, the painting was purchased for $900 by Don Trachte
Don Trachte
Donald Trachte was an American cartoonist. He graduated from Madison, Wisconsin's Central High School, attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison and later served in World War II as a lieutenant....
and was in his ownership until his death on May 4, 2005. Ownership and access went to his four children.
The painting was the inspiration for a 1987 TV movie of the same name, featuring Jason Robards
Jason Robards
Jason Nelson Robards, Jr. was an American actor on stage, and in film and television, and a winner of the Tony Award , two Academy Awards and the Emmy Award...
and Doug McKeon respectively as the father and son.
In February 2006, Dave and Don Trachte, Jr., began to search for paintings in their deceased father's home upon coming across a replica
Replica
A replica is a copy closely resembling the original concerning its shape and appearance. An inverted replica complements the original by filling its gaps. It can be a copy used for historical purposes, such as being placed in a museum. Sometimes the original never existed. For example, Difference...
of a painting by George Hughes in their father's studio. They found film in the studio revealing that their father possessed two copies of Breaking Home Ties, with differences that were visibly noticeable. Despite his father stating that he had the painting restored, a professional examination done by the Williamstown Art Conservation Center confirmed that to be false.
On March 16, 2006, Dave and Don found the original painting located in their father's studio located in between a gap in the paneling of a bookcase. In that gap was the original paintings purchased by their father, including the original copy of Breaking Home Ties. On April 6, 2006, the Norman Rockwell Museum
Norman Rockwell Museum
The Norman Rockwell Museum is home to the world's largest collection of original Rockwell art.-History:Founded in 1969, the museum is located in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where Rockwell lived the last 25 years of his life. The museum has been at its current location since 1993. The museum...
placed the originals along with the replicas to keep on display in their museum.
On November 29, 2006, Sotheby's
Sotheby's
Sotheby's is the world's fourth oldest auction house in continuous operation.-History:The oldest auction house in operation is the Stockholms Auktionsverk founded in 1674, the second oldest is Göteborgs Auktionsverk founded in 1681 and third oldest being founded in 1731, all Swedish...
sold the painting at auction for $15.4 million, which at the time was a record sum paid for a Rockwell work. The buyer or buyers chose to remain anonymous.