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Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.44, 1961.63.44 Photo…
Sign for Rose's Inn
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.44, 1961.63.44 Photograph by David Stansbury. © 2013 The Connecticut Historical Society.
Photographs and all rights purchased by the Connecticut Historical Society.

Sign for Rose's Inn

Dateabout 1813
MediumPaint on pine board, iron hardware
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width including hardware): 35 5/8 x 23 1/4in. (90.5 x 59.1cm)
Other (height x width of sign only): 33 1/2 x 23 1/4in. (85.1 x 59.1cm)
ClassificationsPainting
Credit LineCollection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard
DescriptionImages: on both sides: identical genre scene, depicting a man holding a bird, with two additional birds hidden in a large bush; the version on side 2 was repainted early in the twentieth century; at the bottom of each side is a square and compass
Text: on both sides, at top of scene, "H. ROSE."; and immediately below scene, "A bird in the hand is worth / two in the bush."
Construction: Three boards cut to a shield shape, oriented vertically.
Object number1961.63.44
InscribedOn both sides, at top of scene, "H. ROSE."; and immediately below scene, "A bird in the hand is worth / two in the bush."NotesTechnique Note: Side 1 displays only a single layer of paint; side 2 was heavily overpainted, probably ca. 1940. A mylar overlay dawing of side 1 indicates that a template was used to replicate the entire composition, including the lettering.

Historical Note: Original location. On Ripley's Hill, along the north-south road, in what was then the business section of Coventry, northeast of Wangumbaug Lake.
Subject Terms
    Collections
    • Tavern and Inn Signs
    On View
    On view
    Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.7 © 2008 The Connect…
    Captain Aaron Bissell Sr.
    Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard., 1961.63.47  Photograph by D…
    Unknown
    about 1826-1842
    Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.35  Photograph by Da…
    Ebenezer Marsh Jr.
    about 1785-1810
    Collection of Morgan B. Brainard, Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.48  © 2011 The Conne…
    Benjamin Williams
    1803-1826
    Sign for Blatchly's Inn
    Moses Blatchly Jr.
    1788
    Collection of Morgan B. Brainard, Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.51  © 2011 The Conne…
    Asa Wightman
    1815-1824
    Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1963.61.13  Photograph by Wi…
    Dr. Daniel Caulkins
    probably about 1790s