Lilla Cabot Perry: Family Recollections

"Boy Fishing" by Lilla Cabot Perry
White House Collection

"Often grandparents give more of themselves to their grandchildren than they do to their children. They are more relaxed with them and have more time to enjoy them. Elsie remembers posing in [Lilla Cabot Perry's] studio when she was only four years old. The grey cat Rover was in her arms and she was being entertained by her adored grandfather, Thomas Sergeant Perry, know as 'Bonpapa.' He adored his wife, and was happy to help her with her painting. He also tolerated his grandchildren quite happily.

When we posed for our grandmother she would sing to us or recite poetry, but mostly she would tell us special stories. She had the wonderful gift of being able to talk as she painted, and we loved all the anecdotes about her life. She also had a way of helping to awaken an arm or leg that had gone to sleep from being in one position too long - she would get onto her knees and squeeze the arm or leg with both hands until it was comfortable again. She had such a sweet understanding of a child's need.

Monet said that Bonnemaman's [grandmother's] forte was portraits out of doors, although she claimed it was much hard to paint en plein air - the light was hard to catch and reproduce on canvas. Also the weather did not always cooperate. Even in the warmer seasons a landscape meant carrying everything - canvas, easel, palette, paints - out from the studio each day, and this endless procession had to be repeated every day until the painting was completed. Through the years it was most often her daughter, our Aunt Marg, who made these taxing expeditions a reality.

In 1958 Lilla's granddaughter, Elsie Lyon, and her husband drove out to Giverney where Monet's stepdaughter reportedly still lived. After much fruitless questioning they eventually stood before the gate, where a little old lady was sitting in her garden. When Elsie explained, 'My grandmother was Lilla Cabot Perry,' the gate was flung open and she was embraced with warmth by Germaine Hoschede. It didn't take long to become good friends. 

In frequent trips to Giverny Elsie met good friends of Germaine's. She also was able to go into Monet's hour and garden. Now, of course, the house and garden have been beautifully restored, and crowds flock to see them. 'Alice in the Lane,' Bonnemaman's painting of our mother, hangs in Monet's bedroom. A letter from Alice as a girl tells of a weekend in which she had been invited to stay with the Monets. As the great man was away, she had been put in his room and slept in his bed. Bonnemaman brought hollyhock seeds back to Hancock from Giverny, and they have continued to bloom there for many summers since that time."

 (Excerpts from 'Family Recollections of Lilla Cabot Perry' by Lilla Levitt, Anita English, and Elizabeth (Elsie) Lyon in "Lilla Cabot Perry: An American Impressionist" by Meredith Martindale.)