William Merritt Chase: Fish for Hire

"An English Cod" by William Merritt Chase

"It was in 1904 that William Merritt Chase painted his 'English Cod,' now owned by the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, and this is how that particular cod came to be painted: Passing a fishmonger's shop one day, Chase saw a large and opalescent cod lying upon a marble slab. He stood for some time gazing at it, priced it, decided that it was rather an expensive and perishable bit of still-life material and continued on his errand, but he could not forget the fish.

Its subtle color haunted his dreams and the spell of its beauty drew him back to the fishmonger's stall. He explained to the owner of the shop the nature of his interest, and suggested, since it was not his desire to dispose of the fish in the usual and permanent manner, that perhaps he might rent it for a few hours.

The fishmonger, since it was Saturday and a half-holiday, hesitated at first lest he lose the sale of his fish. After a short dicker, however, he agreed to rent the cod to the artist, and Chase went away with his prize, promising to pay for it if he kept it over the allotted time.

When the fish was not returned on time, the fishmonger sent an emissary to the painter's studio to find out what was going on. His report, whatever it was, evidently aroused curiosity, for in a little while the fishmonger himself appeared on the scene. He came in so quietly that the painter did not hear him at first. When discovered, the man replied most respectfully, 'Don't 'urry, sir; it's getting on fine.'

When the last brush stroke was planted, the painter turned to the owner of the cod, and, generous as always, suggested that he ought to buy it since the fishman might by now have lost all chance of selling his fish before Sunday. But the fishmonger, an art lover in his own fashion, said that he would take his chances and would accept nothing more than the two hours' hire for his fish!

The next year when Case was in London on his way to Spain, finding himself in the vicinity of the fishmonger's shop, went in and asked the man if he remembered him. The fishmonger replied at once, 'Oh, yes, you are the American artist who painted my cod.' "I thought you might like to hear about it,' said Chase. 'I sold that picture to a museum for four hundred pounds.'

When the generous Chase offered to give the fishmonger an honorarium on the sale, the honest Britisher flatly refused. He would not take any more of the painter's money, but would very much like a photograph of the fish picture to hang in his shop, a request which, of course, delighted the painter, who brought the photo the following summer."

To be continued

(Excerpts from "The Life and Art of William Merritt Chase" by Katharine Metcalf Roof.)