A Fire That Inspired Change
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An eerie theme in the illustrator’s life was saving his work from being destroyed. In 1943, Rockwell experienced his first catastrophe. He left his burning pipe in his studio in Vermont, and that night it quickly caught fire. Inside were original paintings, books of his favorite sketches, and costumes and props he had collected for inspiration. Everything was destroyed.
The fire became a rebirth of sorts for his career. He left his visions of fantasy behind and moved forward toward modern life. Rockwell and his wife Mary decided it was time to leave Vermont, and they moved to Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
