The twin lighthouses of Thatcher's Island off the shore of Rockport, Massachusetts, stand guard over the coasts of Cape Ann. They were erected in 1771 and rebuilt in 1860-61 just shortly before Richards painted this beautiful depiction. "Thatcher's Island, Cape Ann, Massachusetts" is quintessential Richards. The detailed work, the mastery of watercolor, the coastal Massachusetts subject matter, the scale indicating on-site painting, are all hallmarks of Richards' best paintings.