Perry was the daughter of an eminent Bostonian family. She received an excellent education which familiarized her with the arts. She married Thomas Sergeant Perry, professor of 18th century English literature in 1874. Perry and her family traveled to Europe for the first time in 1887. Residing in Paris, she copied Old Masters in the Louvre. In 1889 after studying at the Academie Colarossi and the Academie Julian, Perry attended Monet’s exhibition “Impressions.” The exhibition was a revelation for Perry, who decided to take up residence in Giverny. Although Monet never took pupils, he gave advice to Lilla which served as a basis for “Reminiscences of Claude Monet” published in 1927. The Perrys spent a total of ten summers in a house neighboring Monet’s at Giverny. The summer of 1909 marked their last stay in Giverny and their last visit to France.