Cherubs

Lucy and Henry Bowen had fourteen cherished grandchildren. He celebrated them in the decoration of the family’s Brooklyn Heights home. On the ceilings of the parlors, murals were enhanced with cherubs whose faces were the faces of his grandchildren. Before the home was sold in 1904, the cherubs were removed from the ceiling and presented to each grandchild. Over the years, Historic New England has been fortunate to receive many of the cherubs from their owners or descendants for safekeeping.