Chase, William Merritt (1849-1916), was an American painter and art teacher. In his paintings, Chase combined flowing, spontaneous brushwork with glowing colors and dazzling contrasts to create striking visual effects. One of his favorite subjects was the elaborate interior of his studio in New York City. Chase made many paintings that included stylish women examining the room’s exotic ornaments. He also painted sunny coastal landscapes of Long Island, city park scenes, and sophisticated portraits of wealthy people.
Chase was born on Nov. 1, 1849, in Nineveh, Indiana. He studied at the National Academy of Design in New York City and at the Royal Academy in Munich. Chase’s early paintings reflect the Munich style and feature dashing brushstrokes, dark tones, and brilliant highlights. In the late 1880’s, influenced by French Impressionism, he began using lighter colors. Chase taught in New York City and his own art school on Long Island. His students included American painters Charles Sheeler, Edward Hopper, and Georgia O’Keeffe. Chase died on Oct. 25, 1916.
