Patrick Toner, Author at The Imaginative Conservative

About Patrick Toner

Patrick Toner is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Wake Forest University. He writes about analytic metaphysics and the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas...and Norman Rockwell. He earned his Masters in philosophy from Franciscan University of Steubenville and his Ph.D. from the University of Virginia.

A Fresh Perspective: Norman Rockwell & the World Turned Upside Down

By Patrick Toner|2020-06-10T10:21:40-05:00June 26th, 2015|Categories: Art, Christianity, G.K. Chesterton, J.R.R. Tolkien|

Humility is necessary in the case of Norman Rockwell, because his work itself has become trite. We think we know the pictures, so we do not ever bother to look. If they are to do their work of prompting us to a fresh perspective, and helping us to recover the things that have become trite, [...]

The Episcopalian Imagination of Norman Rockwell

By Patrick Toner|2020-08-03T15:07:15-05:00October 10th, 2014|Categories: Art, Christianity|

Despite his walking away from regular religious devotion, the Episcopalian imagination of Norman Rockwell soaks his artistic vision in liturgical imagery, particularly his color choices. Contrary to a widespread misconception, Norman Rockwell was not a conventionally religious man. He was raised Episcopalian and spent many boyhood hours in church serving in the choir. But as an [...]