This magnificent “French Second Empire” house was built about ten years after the Civil War ended. Just over 100 years ago, this was the home of a family of Jewish settlers, the wholesalers, retailers, traders and suppliers that once made up one third of Natchez’s 150 businesses. Today, the home is privately owned. It boasts 14-foot hand painted ceilings, and two-foot thick brick walls. Its servant’s wing now houses the bedrooms of six children. The huge home dominates a knoll in the heart of the city, and dwarfs it’s neighbors. Because I was on a walking tour, I only had a few moments to make this image. Fortunately, the sun broke through a heavy overcast just as we passed this house, and I was able to make this layered image featuring the rich reds, greens, and blues of the surroundings, all of which herald the ornate architecture of the place. The white picket fence, dappled in shadow, offers a base layer to the image. The autumnal trees create a gate-like opening in the next layer, while the house, and the cloud splashed sky overhead, complete the composition.