Robert S. Duncanson, a pioneering African American landscape painter of the 19th century, faced significant health challenges in his later years. In October 1872, while preparing for an exhibition in Detroit, he suffered a seizure and collapsed. Following this incident, Duncanson continued to exhibit symptoms associated with schizophrenia, which some historians attribute to severe lead poisoning from prolonged exposure to lead-based paints. He was subsequently admitted to the Michigan State Retreat, a mental institution in Detroit, where he remained until his death on December 21, 1872, at the age of 51. Duncanson was laid to rest in Woodland Cemetery in Monroe, Michigan.
© 2025 KnowThyHistory.com. Know Thy History
