'Norman Rockwell Piece Sells for Nearly $11.6 Million at Christie's Auction

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ A Norman Rockwell masterpiece that had called The National Press Club home for more than 50 years has sold to an anonymous purchaser at auction at Christie's in New York City for $11,589,000 including all fees.

The proceeds of the sale of "Norman Rockwell Visits A Country Editor," which had been owned by the National Press Club Journalism Institute (NPCJI), will support professional development programs for journalists and other initiatives of NPCJI and The National Press Club.

The Rockwell piece was one of more than 100 works of American Art featured in the Christie's auction this morning.

"We're gratified that this bucolic portrayal of a small-town newspaper newsroom from the mid-20 th century haslived up toits estimated value," said John Hughes, President of The National Press Club. "The impact of the Club's stewardship of this great work will pay dividends far beyond what the artist might have imagined."

"The proceeds of this sale will ensure that we can expand a robust program of education and training for journalists, and they will sustain the operations of the Journalism Institute for years to come," said Barbara Cochran, President of the NPCJI Board of Directors.

Proceeds of the sale will be used to support Institute programs to uphold press freedom, develop the skills of professional journalists and communicators, and provide scholarships for future journalists, Cochran said.

At today's auction, two Christie's executives positioned across the saleroom from each other traded bids in $100,000 increments for nearly five full minutes, starting at the $7 million mark, and continuing past the $10 million mark to get to the final sale price of $11.6 million with buyer's premium. Christie's Deputy Chairman Maria Los secured the winning phone bid on behalf of her client.

The $11.6 million result is the fourth highest price ever achieved for Rockwell at auction.

The National Press Club, founded in 1908 in Washington, D.C., is the world's leading professional organization for journalists and fights for a free press worldwide, with 3,100 members around the globe.

The National Press Club Journalism Institute is the non-profit affiliate of The National Press Club. It is committed to offering practical training to journalists and communications professionals working in a rapidly changing media environment. The Institute is home to the Club's prestigious journalism awards that recognize professional journalists who have produced outstanding work for the pubic, and it oversees the club's recently renovated Eric Friedheim Library, which assists journalists in finding accurate information using the latest technology.

For More Information Contact:
Sara Fox, Christie's
(212) 636-2680

Rob Stoddard, on behalf of National Press Club Journalism Institute
(202) 222-2352

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SOURCE National Press Club