Heritage has announced that it will auction off a collection of iconic paintings and illustrations belonging to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). The collection has been valued at $59 million, with the proceeds going towards compensating survivors of childhood sexual abuse within the Scouts, marking a low point in the BSA’s history.
It encompasses works by luminaries like Norman Rockwell and J.C. Leyendecker, forming part of the BSA’s visual identity for decades. The works slated to go under the hammer include “Homecoming” by Rockwell from 1961, which is a poignant depiction of a returning Scout that became one of the most loved images in the BSA’s storied history. There are 59 other paintings by Rockwell, making this the largest sale of the artist’s work. Another highlight is “Weapons for Liberty,” done by Leyendecker in 1918, which captures the patriotic spirit underpinning the organisation’s ethos.
These artworks were previously part of The American Scouting Collection and on view at the Medici Museum of Art in Howland, Ohio. All 65 of Rockwell’s Scouting paintings were seen together for the first time. The exhibition began in October 2020 and presented a rare window into Scouting in America’s varied visual history. However, under the BSA Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan, they were transferred to the BSA Settlement Trust, a separate organisation responsible for compensating the more than 64,000 survivors who came forward.
“Heritage is deeply grateful to have been entrusted with what is undoubtedly one of the most significant collections of Golden Age illustrations to emerge on the market in recent years,” said Aviva Lehmann, Senior Vice President of American Art at Heritage. “We are privileged to have the opportunity to offer this museum-quality collection, which not only celebrates the artistry of Norman Rockwell and other luminaries but also thoroughly embodies the rich cultural heritage at the core of our mission as America’s largest auction house. Not less important to us is the privilege to support the Survivors, underlining our commitment to both the arts and social responsibility.”
It’s more than an art sale, as the auction is part of the BSA’s effort to compensate survivors of Scout sexual abuse. The Honorable Barbara J. Houser (Ret.), the trustee for the administration and distribution of funds to survivors, emphasised, “This auction is in the context of greater justice. “These Survivors have waited decades to be heard and acknowledged, and the sale of these works will help us provide a measure of justice to them,” she said. “Buyers should be proud that they will contribute to rebuilding lives and help right the wrongs of history.”
Heritage Auctions, long regarded as the house of record for Golden Age American Illustration, will show the sale’s highlights in galleries nationwide in the months leading up to the auction. The aim is to get these iconic images in front of a new generation of Americans. The auction is set for this November, and more pieces from the BSA Settlement Trust will be offered in future sales.
It was formed under the BSA Chapter 11 reorganisation plan approved in 2023. The mission of the Trust is to maximize the value of the assets contributed to it while compensating survivors who have filed valid claims. The fund was initially valued at approximately $2.5 billion and might grow further with legal action. The Trust has distributed more than $25 million to over 6,800 survivors, which will likely increase as auctions proceed.