Roses Mist

Rose's Mist was a watershed event in Ray's career as a painter. Only his sixth painting, it would go on to become one of his most renowned and sought-after reproductions. Ray had not yet gone to the United Kingdom, so his painting reference material was limited to family photographs and slides. He discovered some pictures of Rose Cottage on Nantucket in the 1960s without realizing the significance of the building to the islanders. Built in the 1920s, Rose Cottage has become one of Nantucket Island's most photographed houses. With exposed wiring and open stud walls, it was a true fisherman's shack. The outward beauty of rolling roses and a white picket fence cutting through the mist would have fooled you into thinking it was so sparsely furnished on the inside. However, the cottage underwent a historic renovation in 2003 and has been a popular holiday rental since 2017.