A recent discovery in the belongings of a former neighbor of Norman Rockwell revealed an interesting bit of trivia.  Norman Rockwell, an artist who used local folks as models for his well-known character studies of American life, often photographed scenes he planned to later paint.  Rather than have the subjects pose for seemingly endless periods of time, he chose to set the stage in detail, shoot the scene, and then let them on there merry way.  Some in more "merry" a way than others.

It is believed, through the analysis of one such deteriorated photograph, that one particular model may have crossed the line so to speak.  The well known and beloved painting "The Prom Dress" that depicts a young "tom-boy" sizing herself up in the mirror as a frilly girl may have actually been named Tom, and was indeed more than likely a boy.

The painting is in every detail just like the photograph, except some striking differences to the model.  "The model has definitely been feminized," remarked Joan Elveridge, an archive specialist with the DigiChrome Corporation.  "But looking more closely at the original models features and proportions," she added, "This was more like brother contemplating how he might look in sister's dress."

Notable changes are the jeans rolled up in the painting, the waistline is higher and the back is not slouched, the hair is styled in a girlish fashion, and the jaw line and some facial features are more delicate.

"It's still a scene I would find endearing," Joan cited, "although I can imagine that it would not have been received well at the Saturday Evening Post, where, like many of Norman Rockwell's paintings, this piece adorned the cover.  Not to embarrass my childhood friends any, but I used to love having the neighborhood boys over for my little tea parties.  I dressed them up as ladies all the time.  They made wonderful little girlfriends once dressed appropriately."

Maybe a more common American scene than we tend to acknowledge.  It's not to say Mr. Rockwell ever had the intention of doing the painting as posed.  Perhaps he simply needed someone of the right height (the dress would be the right length for that year) and this young man fit the bill so to speak.  But if it was deliberate, could there be another painting out there?