Death of Lilly Martin Spencer

The Daily Register, May 24, 1902

A Famous Artist Who Formerly Lived in Vicinity of Marietta

New York, May 23 - Lilly Martin Spencer, a noted artist, whose paintings years ago achieved for her worldwide reputation, died yesterday [May 22, 1902] at 226 West 114th street at the age of 77 years.

Mrs. Spencer came to America with her parents when she was 5 years old. Her father was a scholarly Frenchman, instructor of the young Dukes of Exeter and Devonshire. They lived in Marietta, Ohio. At the age of 12 years Lilly Spencer was considered a marvel, and Nicholas Longworth, the Cincinnati millionaire, who had heard of her, offered to send her abroad to study. She refused to do so, because he stipulated that she must abstain from all original work for seven years and spend that time studying old masters. He remained her friend, however, and after she married and came to New York, she opened her studio under his patronage.

Among her most notable paintings are the allegorical representatives of "Truth Unmasking Falsehood," for which Senator Sprague of New Jersey offered $20,000, an immense sum at that time.

Up to a few weeks ago Mrs. Spencer still worked at her easel. Among her recent paintings are portraits of Mrs. Benjamin Harrison, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Robert Ingersoll. Her masterpiece is considered to be "Algeria," from "Childe Harold."

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Scores of Marietta people will remember Mrs. Spencer when she lived here, and how even in childhood her work was marvelous. It is told that when she resided in a house near Devol's Dam she covered the very walls of the building with exquisite paintings and for many years the house was a place constantly visited by sightseers.