Sheep played a large part in the early days of the island of Conanicut. As early as 1637, when the Narragansett granted the right to the grasses of the island to the Newport settlers, sheep were grazed on the island. Sheep and wool remained important island products through the 19th century. The painting by John Austin Sands Monks, shown above, shows sheep crossing Great Creek with the Windmill in the background. Click on this link to see it in our collection.