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)

_______________________________ 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

_____________________________ 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

___________________________ 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