Norman's Rock
- Oil on pineboard box
- 19.5 x 30.5 x 19.5 in
- Sir Alfred J. Munnings
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This extraordinary and truly unique piece captures the spirit,åÊhumor, and illustrative style that marked Munnings‰Ûª formativeåÊyears as an artist. The models that appeared in Munnings‰Ûª earlyåÊworks were usually local farmers, stable boys, gypsies, andåÊtradesmen with whom the artist developed lasting friendships.åÊOne of Munnings‰Ûª earliest models, James Norman, who wasåÊdepicted selling oranges in one of Munnings‰Ûª most famousåÊpaintings A Gala Day, is fondly remembered in An Artist‰Ûªs Life,åÊthe autobiography of Sir Alfred James Munnings. At the time I was beginning to employ an old son of the soil; andåÊwe formed a friendship which lasted until he died. His name wasåÊNorman. He was a grandfather many times over. He was over eighty,åÊactive and strong, hale and hearty: a nature‰Ûªs gentleman, a swell ofåÊthe soil. Indeed, ‰ÛÏone of the rude forefathers of the hamlet,‰Û if everåÊthere was one‰Û_Norman was not always holding horses or beingåÊpainted, or gardening. He took part in other scenes‰ÛÓbacchanalianåÊscenes at night in the studio. At one in the morning we used to see Norman home to his solitaryåÊabode in what was known as the parish room. We spent merryåÊevenings in that room watching him making rock. (Think of it now,åÊin this sugar shortage!) Parcels of brown sugar weighing two stonesåÊor more stood on the table, a great iron saucepan of toffee bubbledåÊon the fire. To this was added peppermint and lemon essence. Then,åÊplacing a mass of brown toffee on a plate to cool, Norman shaped itåÊout in a long, loopy affair, and taking the ends in each hand, threwåÊit over a hook fixed to a rafter, and began steadily pulling it andåÊpulling it, and throwing it over the hook again, until it grew longeråÊand whiter. Then he took some of the brown toffee and pulled thisåÊout once to the length. The two cables were then twisted together andåÊcut off in lengths of five or six inches, and laid to cool, and it wasåÊthen Norman‰Ûªs Rock. This rock he wheeled on Saturday afternoons up to Harleston in aåÊlarge, lidded box, fixed on the springs, body, and wheels of an oldåÊperambulator. One or two of his grandchildren accompanied himåÊto pull it up the hills. One day he brought this vehicle to the studio,åÊand I painted three pretty girls‰Ûª faces on one side with the letteredåÊadvertisement thus: ‰ÛÏEat Norman‰Ûªs Rock and Grow Sweet‰Û. OnåÊthe other side I painted three old maids with sour faces and wrote:åʉÛÏNorman‰Ûªs Rock Cures Sour People‰Û.