Elitists in art circles have always talked down the illustrators. Rockwell was no exception except to say that he was the premier artist/illustrator of his time. We cannot compare Rockwell to the untrained who use subjects for their statement and fail to make correct art. And yes the image in question is very poorly executed. That is the point of this discussion, not the subject he attempted to illustrate.
Think art, not subjects.
If I waited until I was trained;
I’d use more than just half my brain.
To ‘rite silly rhyme,
takes so little my time;
I’m sorry - I’ll never be Twain.