William Merritt Chase was born on November 1, 1849, in Williamsburg, Indiana.
“The success gained Chase his first fame.”
His father was a local businessman who moved the family to Indianapolis in 1861. Chase showed an early interest in art and studied under self-taught artists Barton S. Hays and Jacob Cox. He later traveled to New York in 1869, studying at the National Academy of Design under Lemuel Wilmarth. He also studied with Joseph Oriel Eaton for a short time. In 1870, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he won prizes for his paintings at a local exhibition.
His talent attracted the interest of wealthy St. Louis collectors.
They arranged for him to visit Europe for two years in exchange for paintings and help securing European art. He settled at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, studying under Alexander von Wagner and Karl von Piloty. He befriended American artists Walter Shirlaw, Frank Duveneck, and J. Frank Currier. In 1876, his painting “Keying Up” – The Court Jester won a medal at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, gaining him his first fame.
He traveled to Venice in 1877 with Duveneck and John Henry Twachtman.
He returned to America in 1878 and opened a studio in New York’s Tenth Street Studio Building. He became a member of the Tilers, a group that included Winslow Homer and Augustus Saint Gaudens. In 1881, he traveled back to Europe with William Preston Phelps for a working tour of Italy. He is considered one of the most important American painters of the late 19th century. His work is held in major museums across the United States.
He influenced a generation of American artists and was a leading figure in the Impressionist movement. His legacy endures through his vibrant portraits and landscapes. He died in 1916, leaving behind a rich body of work. His contributions to American art are still celebrated today.
William Merritt Chase was a master of American Impressionism whose work captured the elegance and spirit of his time. His legacy continues to inspire artists and art lovers around the world.
