80th Birthday

Sometimes called 'Old Sailor' or 'Grandfather’s Story,' this genre painting represents an aged sailor, perhaps a navy veteran, telling stories from his youth to a young girl, possibly a maid. She has dropped her feather duster and gives him her full attention. A model ship, a framed picture of a naval battle, and a large map all hint at the man’s exploits. His wooden prosthesis is prominently placed in the center of the painting, drawing attention to his sacrifice. The map of North America behind the man, which reads “North” in the lower left, suggests that he may be a veteran of the American Civil War. Thomas Satterwhite Noble, from a slave-owning Kentucky family, had fought for the Confederacy but later painted scenes condemning slavery.