Gov. William Henry Ross Mansion

Artist Ellen Rice once had the keys to the grand old Italian Renaissance Governor William Henry Ross Mansion. She'd found out it was for rent when the last tenants left and she was given the keys for a weekend.

She spent that time exploring and wandering and imagining what it would be like to live there, what it was like in the years when the governor's family was there, when two sons went off to two different sides of the Civil War. It was a brief, magical time. She realized it wasn't practical when the former renter told her about broken pipes and a heating system using more than 600 gallons of oil on one cold winter week. It is now owned and operated by the Seaford Historical Society.

Ellen's drawing, a work of love of history and correct detail, was born of that time. Enlarge your screen to see the fine details, from the horse weathervane to the Virginia Creeper leaves climbing the home, which was planted by Gov. Ross' wife.

Better yet, view the print in the studio. The framed original may be seen by appointment.

Ellen's Ross Mansion reproductions are offset lithographs printed on heavy, textured watercolor paper. They are offered in the original black and white or custom watercolored by Ellen.