19th C. Lilly Martin Spencer O/C Still Life With Flowers

The image was painted by Lilly Martin Spencer (1822 – 1902), one of the premiere American female artists of the 19th century.

Spencer began showing artistic talent at an early age while growing up in Marietta, Ohio. She was given encouragement to develop her skills, both by her parents and from local artists, eventually studying in Cincinnati before settling in the New York area. Spencer chose to pursue painting as a profession, rather than as a pastime, an attitude that was outside the norm for women of the 19th Century, especially given the fact that she bore 13 children. Her paintings of ideological, everyday scenes of domestic life were inspired by her own household, and quickly found an audience within the middle class art buying public that were eager to own pieces with which they could identify. Although widely known, her popularity did not translate to financial prosperity. However, she maintained a happy existence with her family, and continued to paint until her death at age 80.

The painting is in very good condition with some fine craquelure to the canvas due to age. There is a very minor amount of in-painting (touch-ups) to a few spots, mainly around the perimeter and in the background. It is signed in the lower right hand corner and set into a gilt wood frame, also in very good condition.

Size of Image: 32" Height by 27" Width

Size of Frame: 35 ½" Height by 30 ½" Width.

Item ID: PS110117