Norman Rockwell baseball painting sells for $1.6M at auction
DALLAS — A rendering by Norman Rockwell of one of his best known baseball-themed paintings has sold at auction for $1.6 million.
The work was a study, or a preliminary work, for Rockwell’s “Tough Call.”
The painting depicts three umpires looking skyward pondering whether to call a game because of rain. It’s arguably the most recognizable of his baseball-themed works.
Heritage Auctions says the painting sold Sunday in Dallas to a buyer who wants to remain anonymous.
The Austin family who put the work up for auction thought they just had a print of the work before they had it examined.
The final painting is in the possession of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
This undated photo provided by Heritage Auctions shows a rendering by Norman Rockwell of one of his best known paintings. The rendering has sold at auction for $1.6 million. Heritage Auctions says the painting sold Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017, in Dallas to a buyer who wants to remain anonymous. The work was a study _ a preliminary work _ for Rockwell’s “Tough Call.” The painting features three umpires looking skyward pondering whether to call a game because of rain. The family that put it up for auction had thought they just had a print. (Heritage Auctions via AP)