The Four Freedoms is a series of four 1943 oil paintings by the American
artist Norman Rockwell (1894–1978). The paintings—Freedom of Speech,
Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want and Freedom from Fear—refer to
President Franklin D. Roosevelt's January 1941 Four Freedoms State of
the Union address in which he identified essential human rights that
should be universally protected, a theme which became part of the
charter of the United Nations. The paintings were reproduced in the
Saturday Evening Post alongside essays by prominent thinkers of the day.
They became the highlight of a year-long touring exhibition to promote
the sale of war bonds in support of the American war effort, which
raised over $132 million. Rockwell (pictured in his twenties) was the
most widely known and popular commercial artist of the mid 20th century,
but failed to achieve critical acclaim. The four paintings, which are
now in the Norman Rockwell Museum, are his best-known works, but
critical review has not been entirely positive. However, Rockwell
created a niche in the enduring social fabric with Freedom from Want,
emblematic of what is now known as the "Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving".
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Freedoms_(Norman_Rockwell)>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1535:
Ottoman–Habsburg wars: The army of Charles V, Holy Roman
Emperor conquered Tunis and massacred an estimated 30,000 inhabitants.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conquest_of_Tunis_(1535)>
1660:
Mary Dyer was hanged in Boston for repeatedly defying a law
banning Quakers from the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Dyer>
1879:
Louis Napoleon was killed in action during the Anglo-Zulu War,
sending shock waves throughout Europe, as he was the last serious hope
for the restoration of the Bonapartes to the French throne.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napol%C3%A9on,_Prince_Imperial>
1967:
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, the celebrated album by
the Beatles, was released.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgt._Pepper%27s_Lonely_Hearts_Club_Band>
1980:
CNN was launched as the first television network to provide
24-hour television news coverage.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNN>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
progeny:
1. (uncountable) Offspring or descendants.
2. (countable) Result of a creative effort.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/progeny>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Seize the time, Meribor. Live now. Make now always the most
precious time. Now will never come again. Star Trek : The Next
Generation
--Jean-Luc Picard
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jean-Luc_Picard>