Lawrence C. Earle, internationally famed as an artist and one of
the city's most distinguished citizens, died here suddenly last night, when he was
stricken with apoplexy while on his way to an affair planned in his honor by friends. He
was 76 years of age.
Mr. Earle fell unconscious to steps leading to the home of Frank
Forsyth, 242 Jefferson ave. SE., and died unseen by passersby. At the Forsyth home, a
dozen guests had assembled for a tea given in honor of the aged artist. Wondering at his
delay, friends were ignorant of his death until shortly after 7 o'clock when a man passing
the home knocked on the door and informed Mr. Forsyth.
Miss Jane Barker, long an acquaintance of Mr. Earle, was among the
first to his side and discovered life had gone. The body was carried into the home and
physicians summoned. The body was later removed to the Birdsall undertaking rooms, at
Jefferson ave. and State st., SE.
Mr. Earle was born in New York City Nov. 11, 1845, and came to
Grand Rapids with his father when he was 12 years of age. He returned to New York in 1866,
where for several years he studied and painted, moving from there to Chicago, where he
opened a studio and painted until the disastrous fire of 1871. From there he went to
Europe and, after several years of study and work in Munich, Florence, Paris and other
European cities, returned to America and made his home at Montclair, N. J. In 1885 he was
married to Miss Helen Harmon.
In 1909, after the death of his wife, Mr. Earle returned to Grand
Rapids to live and has made this city his residence since.
Mr. Earle was an honorary member of the Association of the National
Academy and recognized at the heighth of his renown as the leading water color painter of
America. His works are now exhibited at the New York National Academy, among the civic
collection of Peoria, Ill., at the National museum at Washington, D. C., and in many
private collections in many art centers of the country.
Grand Rapids is fortunate in having many of his finest works. The
Peninsular club, of which he had been made an honorary life member, possesses some of his
best canvasses. The portraits for which he was justly famed hang in private collections of
Philo C. Fuller, Judge Wanty, Gen. B. S. Pierce, Mr. Butterworth, Mrs. Isabelle Putnam,
Mrs. Edyth Mansfield, Mrs. Guy W. Rouse, Ralph Widdicomb and Mrs. Emily J. Clark.
Mr. Earle is survived by two sons, Lawrence H. Earle of New York
city and John H. Earle of Redding, Pa; and two sisters, Mrs. Grace Harrison of Santiago,
Calif., and Miss Kate Earle of 226 Union ave., SE.,
with whom he made his home. Mr. and Mrs. J. Edward Earle of Fountain st., NE., were his
cousins.
Private service will be held at the residence Wednesday afternoon,
at a time to be announced later.
THE GRAND RAPIDS HERALD, MONDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 21, 1921
