William Merritt Chase: Teaching in Holland

"The Coast of Holland" by William Merritt Chase

"In the summer of 1903 William Merritt Chase went to Holland, where he held his first European summer class. His letters to his wife describe the class he taught in the city of Haarlem. On July fifth he penned a description of the Fourth of July dinner he gave to welcome his students. 'I must say the room looked very pretty. I had flowers and music, a small American flag at each place made especially at Amsterdam. They are funny looking things. I will bring one home with me for you to see. I have found a little studio and will get to work at once. Love to you my darling. Good-by until tomorrow. Will.' 

The next letter tells of cold weather, galleries visited, talks to students, the starting of a new still-life and of Whistler's death. He wrote: 'The students telegraphed to London and arranged to have a wreath placed on Whistler's coffin in the name of me and the class. Nice of them to do this, don't you think so?' And in another epistle: 'It is just two months since I left home, it seems like a year when I think of it. My pupils have about bought all that there is to be had in brass and copper here and the price has actually gone up since our arrival.'

"When he took the students to see the Mesdag collections at The Hague, he informed his wife, 'They all came away very enthusiastic. Mr. and Mrs. Mesdag showed us their studios and were most hospitable.' Josef Israels was the next painter who had to do his duty by the students. 'We found Mr. Israels a very charming little man,' penned Chase. '(He does not stand as high as my shoulder.) The students were all delighted with the man and his pictures.' 

Nothing that could contribute to the students' pleasure or store of knowledge was overlooked. One of them remembers how Chase took them all to a private house in Holland to see the family portraits, one of which was a fine example of Rembrandt. Before he left Haarlem, he showed his appreciation of the friendly spirit of the townspeople as well as his devotion to their greatest master by laying a wreath at the foot of the Hals monument in the presence of the mayor and the people of the town. 

That the people of Haarlem valued the compliment that Chase paid to the art of their country is shown by the fact that before he left a silver medal was presented to him by the burgomaster inscribed, 'Remembrance of the visit of William Chase, U.S.A., and his class to the Franz Hals Museum in Holland.'

To be continued

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