Rembrandt was commissioned to paint this portrait of  the members of the Draper's Guild, 
who have gathered around a table to examine a book.

For many years, this painting was used  by the Dutch Masters Cigar Company
as the featured picture on nearly all of its packaging. 

Like the millions who can't hear the "William Tell Overture" without thinking of "The Lone Ranger,"
there are millions who can't see this painting without thinking of a cigar.

So two objects of great symbolic importance in "The Time Machine" screenplay...
two objects that travel into the future...
the cigar (in the model machine) and the books (in the full-sized one)
are "referenced" in this painting.