Peter Rockwell


Peter Rockwell was an American sculptor, and the author of several books about stone carving. He was associated with the Norman Rockwell Museum, named for his father.

Early life

Rockwell was born on September 16, 1936 in New Rochelle, New York, the son of Mary Barstow and painter and illustrator Norman Rockwell. Rockwell grew up in Vermont, where he was educated at The Putney School. He graduated from Haverford College in 1958, and he later attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

Career

Rockwell became a sculptor in Rome, Italy, where he spent most of his adult life. His father was initial reluctant to see his son pursue sculpture as a profession. Rockwell left Rome and produced sculptures at the Clay Dreaming Pottery Studio in Beverly, Massachusetts. He authored several books about stone carving.
Rockwell was associated with the Norman Rockwell Museum, named for his father, where he exhibited his work. His work was also examined in The Art of Making in Antiquity: Stoneworking in the Roman World, a research project at King's College London.
His sculptures can be seen in the United States at the National Portrait Gallery, the Washington National Cathedral, Boston College, the Cathedral of the Pines. They are also held in a convent in Chioggia, Italy and at the headquarters of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property in Rome.

Personal life and death

Rockwell married Cynthia Ide, and they had four children. He died on February 6, 2020, in Danvers, Massachusetts. His funeral was held at St. Paul's Within the Walls in Rome.

Selected works

Books