William Merritt Chase: Sojourn in Venice

"Venice," 1877
by William Merritt Chase

"In 1877 Chase went from Munich to Venice, where he spent about nine months in company with Frank Duveneck and John Twachtman. The three painters lived together in the simplest and most economical fashion. Indeed their stay was prolonged to a greater length than they had originally intended because they lacked the funds necessary for the act of departure. But that time was one full of interest, and as they painted outdoors together the art of the associated painters grew steadily stronger and more individual.

A Mrs. Bronson proved a good friend to the young men and it was through her kind offices that they were eventually helped out of their financial embarrassment. Reduced to absolute penury they lived almost exclusively upon beans, and at the eleventh hour help came when Mrs. Bronson secured a portrait order for Duveneck. 

Duveneck was never more excited in his life when he was offered the commission and was still further overcome at the excellent price offered. 'For at that moment,' the artist said, 'if he had but known it, he could have had it for five dollars!'

In Venice Chase did a number of still-life studies. One included his monkey Jocko, whom he had saved him from a group of Spanish sailors. Chase had taken the monkey back to his studio, arranged an Italian canopied bed for his new pet and fed him generously. Jocko had many adventures and mishaps, and sadly died after eating a handful of matches.

"Still Life with Monkey" by W.M. Chase

While in Venice, Chase received an offer from the newly founded Art League in New York to teach. It is amusing to realize now, familiar as we are with Chase's extraordinary career as a teacher, that he had grave doubts of his ability to teach and, had it not been for Duveneck's urging him to try it, would probably not have accepted the offer which had such important consequences."

To be continued

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