Still Life with Fruit is currently hanging in the parlor above Simon Willard’s desk. This small oil on wood painting (14 1/4" x 11 1/4", framed) was done by one of his sons, Joseph Willard, as a present for his married sister in 1813. The description on the back of the panel reads: "Presented to Hannah Pond by her brother Joseph Willard the painter of this 1813".

Joseph was born on Sept 13th 1796, his sister Hannah was five years older then him. She got married to John Pond on Dec 31 1809, and moved to New Hampshire around this time.

Joseph was seventeen years old at the time he painted it, and this simple oil on wood still-life shows him as an emerging artist. Different kind of fruit, including grapes, peaches, pear and watermelon, symbolize wishes of prosperity in new married life for a young woman.

Unfortunately, no information is available about Joseph Willard after 1848, when papers list him as living in New York.