On Tuesday, the Art Institute of Chicago revealed its latest addition: a study for The Dugout (1948) created by renowned artist Norman Rockwell. This piece, a generous donation from former Illinois governor Bruce Rauner and his wife Diana, marks the museum's first acquisition of Rockwell's work.
Rockwell, celebrated for capturing the essence of American life, is best known for his cover illustrations in the Saturday Evening Post, where over 300 of his pieces were featured between 1916 and 1963. The oil study portrays the disheartened Chicago Cubs players after their defeat against the Boston Braves on May 23, 1948.
The completed painting, a watercolor, graced the cover of the Post that September, solidifying the Cubs' reputation as "lovable losers" despite finishing last in the National League that season.
Rockwell often utilized reference photographs for his artworks. In the case of The Dugout, Cubs pitcher Bob Rush, manager Charlie Grimm, catcher Al "Rube" Walker, and pitcher Johnny Schmitz posed for him. Interestingly, the batboy depicted was actually the Braves' batboy, Frank McNulty, who was paid by Rockwell to wear a Cubs uniform, while the jubilant spectators behind the dugout were real Braves fans who agreed to reenact their reactions.
According to Ratner, an Illinois native, he and his wife purchased the painting due to his lifelong support for the Cubs and admiration for Rockwell, whom he considers the most iconic American painter. They expressed their joy in owning such a significant piece.
The artwork is now proudly displayed at the Art Institute alongside Grant Wood's iconic 1930 painting, American Gothic.
