Lily Martin Spencer

NAME: Lily Martin Spencer

BORN: 1822

COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS:

born...Avondale, Ohio 
born, Exeter, England 
family settled, Marietta Ohio (Washington County)

OCCUPATION: artist, painter

DIED: 1902, (Poughkeepsie, New York)

FAST FACTS:

Spencer studied art as a child. An early exhibit of her work caught the attention of Nicholas Longworth who helped secure art training for her in Cincinnati with such notable artists as James Henry Beard and John Insco.

She married Benjamin Spencer in 1844 and soon thereafter moved to New York, ultimately settling in Newark, New Jersey.

With Benjamin serving as business manager, Lily's artwork was the family's main source of support.

The two raised thirteen children together.

Spencer's paintings offer a unique window onto nineteenth century domestic life.