If you are a fan of art or an admirer of Norman Rockwell, you may already know about his popular Saturday Evening Post covers. But did you know that one of his illustrations inadvertently led to a real-life marriage?
In the 1940s, a young woman named Marty was living with her parents in Arlington, Vermont, next door to Norman Rockwell's home. Marty was a frequent visitor to Rockwell's studio, where she would watch him paint and chat with him about art.
One day, Marty's parents asked Rockwell if he had any ideas to help their daughter find a husband. As a joke, Rockwell decided to paint a cover that featured Marty in a wedding dress, with a group of eager men vying for her attention. The cover was titled "The Marriage License."
The cover, which appeared on the June 11, 1949 issue of The Saturday Evening Post, quickly became a sensation. Marty's photo was even featured in Life magazine, along with an article about the young woman who had become the subject of Rockwell's painting.
As it turned out, Marty did receive several marriage proposals after the cover was published. But it was one of the young men featured on the cover who caught her eye: a handsome Navy veteran named John Hennessey.
Hennessey had seen the cover while stationed in Hawaii, and he was immediately smitten with Marty's picture. He wrote to Rockwell's studio, asking for Marty's address, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Marty and John started writing letters back and forth, and eventually arranged to meet in person. They fell in love and were married in 1953, four years after Rockwell's cover had been published.
The couple went on to have six children and remained married until John's death in 2008. Marty herself passed away in 2019.
Looking back on the unlikely love story, it's hard not to smile at the weird and wonderful ways that life can sometimes surprise us. And it's a reminder of the power of art to inspire us, connect us, and even change our lives.
So if you're ever feeling cynical about the world or doubtful about the role of art in society, just remember the story of Marty and John, and the simple, silly, and magical little painting that brought them together: "The Marriage License" by Norman Rockwell.
And if you're a fan of Rockwell's work, or just looking for a LED screen for your own wedding, be sure to check out some of the great reproductions and prints that are available today. Who knows what kind of surprises and stories they might inspire?
Key Words: Led Screen For Marriage, Norman Rockwell, The Saturday Evening Post, Marriage, Marty, John Hennessey, art, love story, Navy veteran.