CHASE, William Merritt (Williamsburg, 1849 – New York, 1916)
William Merritt Chase was born on 1 November 1849, in Williamsburg, IN. In 1867 he studied with a local portrait painter and in 1869 attended classes at the National Academy of Design in New York. In 1871 was in St. Louis, MO, and travelled to Europe sponsored by a group of local businessmen. In 1872 entered the Munich Academy where he became friends with Frank Duveneck, Walter Shirlaw and J. Frank Currier. In 1876 he was awarded a medal at the Centennial Exhibition, Philadelphia. In 1877–1878 travelled to Venice with Duveneck and John H. Twachtman. In 1878 he returned to New York where he began teaching at Art Students League. He then joined Tile Club and secured the Tenth Street studio formerly occupied by Albert Bierstadt. He became a member of the Society of American Artists as well, which he was the president of in 1879 and from 1885 to 1895. His trips to Spain with J. Carroll Beckwith, Robert Blum and others date from 1881–1882. With Blum he formed the Society of Painters in Pastel. In 1885 he visited England and enjoyed a brief friendship with J. M. Whistler. In 1886 he married Alice Gerson. Four years later he was elected Academician of the National Academy of Design and from 1891 to 1902 was director of Shinnecock Summer Art School. In 1895 he moved to Stuyvesant Square, New York and the following year opened the Chase School of Art (New York School of Art). Between 1900 and 1914 he made almost annual trips to Europe where he often conducted summer classes. In 1903 he was elected member of the Ten American Painters to fill the vacancy left by Twachtman’s death. In 1908 he was commissioned by the Italian Government to paint a self-portrait for the Uffizi in Florence. He died on 25 October 1916, at home, in Stuyvesant Square.
K W M
<< back