Whatever we may think of Bill Cosby now, in the 1980s, we felt completely at home in the gigantic, formal living room of the Huxtables’ brownstone—which, importantly, showcased the work of ...

A reproduction of her 1974 painting “Birthday,” which had hung in the living room set of “The Cosby Show,” was later used as a backdrop when Cosby hosted an updated version of “Kids Say ...