New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-26
WIN. vi. CHASE,
PAINTER, DEAD
Long Illness Proves Fatal
TO Artist in His New
York Home

William Merritt Chase, artist, died
last night at his home. 234 East Fiji
teenth Street, after an illness lasting
several weeks. be was in MS sixty
eighth year.
Mr.. Chase was born in Franklin, Ind.
He leaves a wife and eight children.
II Mr.. Chase hadn't spoiled so much
good wrapping paper when his father
took him into the family shoe store
in Indianapolis, back in the sos, Amer
lea might have had one less great por-
trait painter and one more indifferent
salesman.
But, with an eye 70 conserving the
wrapping paper stock, the elder Chase
went with his son 70 B. f. Hayes, a
local artist, and asked Hayes TO make
something of him" A year later the
artist confessed II anything further
were 20 be made OF young Chase the
JOB was one for a better master.
Comes Here at Twenty
So, at the age Of twenty, Chase
born in ls49-eame 70 New York. For
a year he studied under J. O. Eaton,
himself an srtist out Of the West,
then he spent g year in the National
Academy Of Design.
The end Of this second year found
the other Chase a failure in business
and on the point OF moving to ST. Louis.
The son, who had developed a modest
earning capacity as a painter of Buck
eye" fish and flowers. moved 70 st.
Louis, 100, TO DO what he could 20 help
the family.
Although he attempted no loftier
fights than those which were sure ire
with the lesser art dealers, Chase at
tracted the attention OF several wealthy
ST. Louisans. They pooled, gave him
few commissions 70 insure running ex-
penses, and sent him abroad.
In the summer of 1872, thus fund
ed, Chase became a student in the
ROYAL Academy at Munich. Something
himself Of an independent" al
though in later years ne was any
thing but an admirer OF the out
branching eubists and futurists), he
was at first at odds with his mas
ters. The eight years he spent IN
Munich we're years Of struggle. Fame
came with 4 rush when Carl Won
Piloty, director o. the Royal Acad-
envy. gave Chase a commission TO
paint the Won Piloty children.
Dealers Come to Artist
After that it was the dealers who
came to Chase. But the time had come
20 carry out the fine revenge planned
in the lean years OF his obscurity. In
stead OF selling 20 them, he refused
their orders, packed up and came back
20 the United States, bringing his hard
won reputation with him.
Soon after his return Chase became
affiliated with group Of young Amer
lean painters who afterward founded
the Society Of American Artists. As
teacher as well as a painter, ne gained
more fame. The young men and young
women who have sat IN his classes
number in the thousands.
Chase was something Of collector as
well "a an artist Being in the unique
position. when his success was at us
crux, OF not being able 20 AFFORD his
cwn works, he bought many Of those by
others which in mis- eyes had merit.
These canvases multiplied until the
artist was almost crowded out OF his
home and his studios, Of which he had
six. How much ne had spent on them
may be guessed from the fact that when
ne decided TO "thin out" the collection
and sell all except the paintings which
had the biggest appeal, more than S5o,-
600 was netted.
A Prolific Artist
Although Chase was a prolific artist
as well as the holder Of many honors
from museums throughout the world
he probably never made larger
amount for a few hours work nor
started so great a wave Of publicity
and comment as when he painted
still-life Goldfish.
In his Buckeye days Goldfish had been
run off more hurriedlY and without
models. But this was fish Chase had
seen in a London stall. He rented
II. kent 1t for couple Of hours and
then. his picture finished save for the
final strokes. returned II TO the dealer
Not long afterward-for this was
after fame had come-the ideallzed cod
fsh was sold for $4,000.