The mural was commissioned by Claudia Walker, wife of Governor Lowell Weicker Jr. and was painted by muralist Barbra Lawess of Greenwich, CT.
Each Governor that has inhabited the Residence since the Weickers, have added their own personal stamp to this historic piece of art.
The mural depicts Connecticut life in the 1800’s and the importance of the Connecticut River in the state’s history. It is used as teaching tool to the children who visit the Residence through school trips each year. It shows an earlier Connecticut populated by fisherman and farmers.
The design features an imaginary landscape with activities along the river — rowing outings, horse and buggy rides and games of snap the whip on village greens. Such state landmarks as the Old Saybrook lighthouse, Cornwall’s covered bridge and Greenwich’s Bush-Holley House are also painted in.
The mural is acrylic painted on canvas and took two months to complete. The canvas was rolled up, transported and installed in the breakfast room of the Residence, adjacent to the kitchen. The artist describes the style as “romantic primitive”.