William Merritt Chase: Studies in New York

"In the Studio" by William Merritt Chase

"Upon reaching New York, William Merritt Chase made his way at once to the studio of J. O. Eaton. Eaton was just about to sail for Europe when the young man arrived. He declined at first to have anything to do with his prospective pupil, but when he saw the boy's work, he gave him the key to his studio and told him to go in and use it until he came back, so young Chase took possession of the place. He also worked in the classes of the Academy of Design. For almost two years he studied with Eaton, taking a studio of his own in the Young Men's Christian Association building.

Studio life at that period was just beginning. The studio with a skylight was practically unknown. The painters and students had rooms if possible with a north light, but frequently without. Models were almost unattainable in those days. Usually the janitor of the building, or one of the children of the laundress, was pressed into service.

After about two years in New York, he returned to his family's new home in St. Louis. He said that the evening of his arrival his father asked him to walk downtown with him. As they walked along the street his father hailed a friend: 'Judge Brown, I want you to meet my son the artist.' Chase never forgot the thrill he felt at those words.

In St. Louis he shared the studio of James William Pattison. It was there that he saw the canvases of one John Mulvaney, who had studied in Munich. They had something that the art he had previously known did not have, and an idea took possession of him - the pilgrimage to Europe. He had attracted the attention with his work of some generous men of means, who raised a sufficient sum of money among them to send the boy to Europe to study. In return the young man was to paint a picture for each patron at the conclusion of his period of study, a condition of course gladly carried out. Destiny had carried Chase to Munich, and there his real art life may be said to have begun."

To be continued

(Excerpts from "The Life and Art of William Merritt Chase.)