The painting found within the dining room emphasizes Havilah’s storytelling abilities. The back of the picture is signed by Havilah Babcock himself. Along with the signature, the painting is dated 1873, which also happens to be the first Christmas that he and his wife Frances Kimberly spent together.
The subject matter of the painting may seem plain at first, just a fan and a rose, but upon further inspection, the items in the picture are telling a larger story. The fan that is sitting on the table is a lady’s fan, but it is accompanied by the man’s offering of a rose. The remainder of the scene is then covered by a curtain, leaving the viewer to imply the romantic connotations of the painting.
The subject matter of the painting may seem plain at first, just a fan and a rose, but upon further inspection, the items in the picture are telling a larger story. The fan that is sitting on the table is a lady’s fan, but it is accompanied by the man’s offering of a rose. The remainder of the scene is then covered by a curtain, leaving the viewer to imply the romantic connotations of the painting.
Pictures Courtesy of Mr. Peter Adams