 In 1873, he bought the Villa Nuti in Florence, where he was visited frequently by De Morgan and where he lived until his death.De Morgan’s sister, A.M.W.Stirling, wrote a collection of biographical essays called "A Painter of Dreams," including reminiscences of her uncle, “the Idealist, the seer of exquisite visions.” During the 19th and early 20th century, the extended Spencer-Stanhope family included several artists, whose ties were the theme of a 2007 exhibition, "Painters of Dreams", part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the opening of Cannon Hall to the public as a museum.