I'm laughing because I got a reply to something I posted on 4/6/06, and I honestly thought, "I'm losing it! I don't even remember posting on Rockwell lately." LOL But your information is fascinating. I never knew Rockwell used classical references in his own work. I wish you could remember which classic Rosie the Riveter was patterned after. I can't even begin to think of one, but I'm sure you're right.
Look at post 35 on this thread.
We're having this same discussion over again in a more recent posting of this same story here. The hidden painting sold for a substantial sum.
I heard a wonderful lecture two years ago. It was by an art history scholar and he showed slides of the Rockwell illustrations, side-by-side with the old masters.
I will try to figure out the Rosie the Riveter parallel old master. I do remember that his self portraid was a take-off on an old master and if you look at the picture there is something on the upper right hand side of his easel that was a symbolic jab at the art critics.
I'll go to google images and try to figure it out. (I hate going to google. They are liberals.)