Francis Marion Tuttle
(From the June 1993 Historical Society Newsletter
A selection of artwork from our collection will be on display at the Dove Block Project from April 5 to April 27. )
Artist Francis Marion Tuttle.
Frances Marion Tuttle was born in Geneva in 1839 and lived as a child in the cobblestone home at the corner of Pre-Emption Road and Hamilton Street. Francis’ grandfather Benjamin Tuttle, was one of Geneva’s early pioneers, having migrated here from the Susquehanna River Valley in Pennsylvania in 1789. Benjamin and one of his sons, Joseph Hammond Tuttle, built and operated taverns on their 382-acre hilltop property overlooking Seneca Lake. Captain Charles Williamson spoke of “Tuttle’s Tavern” as one of the well-known hostelries during the late 1700s. Later Joseph and his son William patented and manufactured world-renowned lumbermen’s saws in Geneva.
Franics Marion Tuttle was the son of Joseph’s second wife, Percis L. Chase. Born with hearing impairment, as a child he was sent to a school for the deaf. In New York City he studied art and there met his future wife, Eunice Jenner, who was also hearing-impaired. Following the death of his father, Francis’ mother moved to 573 South Main Street. It was there that Francis began his local art career after his return from New York City in the mid-1860s.
In the typical art training of his time, he first gained his reputation for painting portraits. From the Geneva Gazette on May 26, 1876 –
Our talented home artist F. Marion Tuttle has produced another portrait which cannot but add to his already well-earned fame as a master in art. We refer to the excellent likeness of Col. Chas. D. Miller, which for the present adorns the show window of M. Willson, No. 19 Seneca St. The features, coloring, and every particular hair of his head and whiskers are true to life as we see the well-esteemed subject from day to day in our streets. Such specimens of the genius cannot but be admired by an appreciative community and secure for the accomplished artist abundant and remunerative employment.
Boating Scene by Francis Marion Tuttle
A great fisherman, Francis also indulged his love of nature with the brush and palette. By the 1880s he was also being extolled for his “.. fine panel pictures.. with subjects from nature, chiefly vies of Seneca Lake…” Around 1890 Francis moved with his wife, mother, and son, Hammond, to 39 Genesee Street. Hammond became a skillful and well-known Geneva photographer who raised his family at the Genesee Street homestead.
Francis Marion Tuttle died on December 30, 1910. His obituary stated, “He loved painting more than anything else and hundreds of his sketches in oil colors, principally views of Seneca Lake and the river, are in many homes here and elsewhere.”
Read more about Francis Marion Tuttle
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John,
Great that you are running these older articles. Tuttle was a great local artist. We have one of his lake scenes.
A Tuttle had a boat docking business where the boat launch is in the State Park. I thank the business started in the 1950s, my father docked a FayBow speedboat there..