Articles

Rare Floral Still Life Restored

Lisa Mehlin performing conservation work. Photo by CAM Staff.

In 2025, the Cape Ann Museum acquired a rare oil painting by Fitz Henry Lane (1804–1865) of a floral still life, Floral Still Life, 1849 (inv. 251). This painting is early and unique to Lane’s oeuvre, and depicts an arrangement of flowers as gathered from a garden on Middle Street in Gloucester. Lisa Mehlin cleaned and revarnished the painting, and the conservator who worked on the frame is Wenda Kochanowski. The piece was displayed prominently in the Museum’s Downtown Campus upon its reopening on June 30, 2026, after being closed for over a year for renovations. 

Before and after of the newly cleaned and revarnished painting.

Two notes are found on the back of the painting. The top note, written by Catalina Davis (1865-1932), explains that the painting was done by Lane and presented to her mother, Harriet Mason (Davis) (1824-1874). Catalina states that the flowers were from the Stacy House at 44 Middle Street and were arranged by Fanny Rogers (1829-1865). The bottom note is a letter dated July 23, 1849, written by Harriet Mason (Davis) to Lane thanking him for the painting and for his offer to provide her with instruction in drawing. Harriet also thanks Lane for his kind feelings “expressed toward her family.”

 Lisa Mehlin performing conservation work. Photo by Al Mallette.

Learn more about the conservation project from the Gloucester Daily Times.