The painting "Peace on Earth" focuses on the Houghton Memorial Building (Blackington Mansion) which has housed the North Adams Public Library since 1898.  The artist, Herman H. Haskins (1888-1972), was self-taught and only began to paint at age 78.  Although his career lasted just 5 years, he achieved international fame and was called a phenomenon by many.  As with all his paintings, this primitive was done from memory.
                                                                                                                                                          1973 Mary Williams