Early Life and Training

William Merritt Chase, a prominent American painter, was born on November 1, 1849, in Williamsburg (now Nineveh), Indiana. His family moved to Indianapolis in 1861, where his father employed him as a salesman. Chase's early interest in art led him to study under local artists Barton S. Hays and Jacob Cox. In 1869, he traveled to New York to further his artistic training, enrolling in the National Academy of Design under Lemuel Wilmarth.

Artistic Career

Chase's talent elicited the interest of wealthy St. Louis collectors, who arranged for him to visit Europe for two years in exchange for paintings and securing European art for their collections. In Europe, he settled at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich, studying under Alexander von Wagner and Karl von Piloty. His figurative works, painted in a loosely brushed style, gained popularity, and his first fame came with the exhibition of "Keying Up" – The Court Jester (now in the collection of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts) at the Boston Art Club in 1876.

Teaching and Legacy

Chase's role as a teacher was pivotal in shaping American art. He established the Chase School, which later became Parsons The New School for Design. His students included prominent artists like George Bellows, Louise Upton Brumback, Kate Freeman Clark, and Georgia O'Keeffe. Chase's influence on California art is evident in his interactions with Arthur Frank Mathews, Xavier Martinez, and Percy Gray.

• Notable Works: At the Seaside (50 x 86 cm, Impressionism) The Olive Grove (85 x 59 cm, Impressionism, Oil)
• Museums featuring his work: The Hudson River School Art Movement William Merritt Chase's artworks on WahooArt
• Related Artists: Thomas Cole, Asher Brown Durand, Frederic Edwin Church, Albert Bierstadt

Conclusion

William Merritt Chase's legacy as a painter and teacher continues to inspire artists. His contributions to American Impressionism and his role in shaping the art world are undeniable. Explore more of his artworks on WahooArt and delve into the world of American art.

William Merritt Chase, pittore statunitense, è noto come esponente dell'Impressionismo e come insegnante. È anche responsabile della fondazione della Chase School, che successivamente diventerà la Parsons The New School for Design.

Vita e carriera

William Merritt Chase nacque il 1 novembre 1849 a Williamsburg (ora Nineveh), Indiana. La famiglia si trasferì a Indianapolis nel 1861, dove Chase lavorò come venditore nella ditta di famiglia. Mostrò un interesse precoce per l'arte e studiò con insegnanti locali, Barton S. Hays e Jacob Cox. Dopo un breve periodo nella Marina, Chase si trasferì a New York nel 1869, dove incontrò e studiò con Joseph Oriel Eaton. Si iscrisse alla National Academy of Design, sotto la guida di Lemuel Wilmarth, allievo del famoso artista francese Jean-Léon Gérôme. Nel 1870, a causa della crisi finanziaria della famiglia, Chase lasciò New York per Saint Louis, Missouri. Lì divenne attivo nella comunità artistica, vincendo premi per le sue opere in una mostra locale e esponendo la sua prima opera alla National Academy nel 1871.

Stile e influenza

Chase adottò lo stile impressionista, spesso dipingendo figure con pennellate leggere. La sua opera "Keying Up" - The Court Jester (1876) fu esposta al Boston Art Club e successivamente alla Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, dove vinse una medaglia. Chase fondò la Chase School, che divenne la Parsons The New School for Design. Insegnò alla Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, all'Art Students League e al Brooklyn Art Association.

Opere importanti

• Portrait of Virginia Gerson (Vedi su WahooArt)
• At the seaside (Vedi su WahooArt)
• Gowanus Bay aka Misty Day, Gowanus Bay (Vedi su WahooArt)
• Alice Fernandez (Vedi su WahooArt)

Altri artisti associati

• John Singer Sargent: pittore statunitense (Vedi su WahooArt)
• Niccolò Cannicci: pittore italiano (Vedi su WahooArt)

Collegamenti esterni

• William Merritt Chase su Wikipedia
• Opere di William Merritt Chase su WahooArt