William Merritt Chase
(1849-1916) was born in Franklin, Indiana. Using the tonal approach of the
old masters as a springboard, the direction of a vivid, impressionistic American
painting of the early twentieth century was set by his example. He was known
for his considerable production of 2000 works consisting of portraits, landscapes,
still lifes & interiors. In Indianapolis he worked with portraiture
& studied under B. F. Hayes and then in New York with J. O. Eaton. In
Munich he carried on studies through l872-l887 & then became the leading American
teacher of his time. His impressionistic style was developed in outdoor
summer classes in Shinnecock, Long Island (l891-l902). He taught at the
Art Students League & then at his own Chase School of Art (which he founded
in 1896). He was elected to the National Academy of Fine Arts in l890 &
was a member of the Society of American Artists for ten years. During his
last decade he had numerous one-man shows in the major cities of United States.
Among his noted pupils were Charles Demuth, Georgia
O'Keefe, and Charles Sheeler.
