Evening star., 1943-06-13
By L ella MechHn.


ceived by the National Gallery OF
Art and placed on view is one en-
titled "A Friendly Call" which is
the work of William M. Chase and
the gift of Chester Dale, through
whose generosity the national col
lection has been greatly enriched
both by loans and donations. AS the
title infers this is an interior with
figures-what would once have been
called "a conversation piece"
Chase's studio-probably at Shine
cock providing the setting. Some
will object, perhaps. that it is not
sufficiently important to represent
Chase in our National Gallery. it
being in lighter vein than his por-
traits and figure paintings. which is
quite true. but on the other hand
it recalls Chase's career and contri-
button as the more imposing works
would not. 1t is we'll to be reminded
of this and profitable to recall both
the man and his era.
William Merritt Chase was born in
a little Indian town, Williamsburgh,
in 1849. When he was y years old
his parents moved to indianapolis.
His father was in the shoe business
in which he expected his son Will
liam to follow him. But the boy had
other ideas. Without having seen
ANYTHING But chromos and illustra-
tive prints he early resolved to be
an artist and diligently taught him
self to draw.
1t would scarcely be possible to
Imagine a more uninspiring environ
ment in which for one artistically
gifted to develop. The use of ne
cessitv came entirely from within
but it persisted. After an ill-con-
sidered enlistment in the Navy and
a term of service on the school ship
Portsmouth he went back to his
fathers shoe store as a clerk but
was released eventually and found
his way to New York, where all
sorts of opportunities awaited, at
which he grasped with alacrity.
New York of the SOS
As we see 1t today, the New York
Of the 1870s was very primitive
place, but it was art minded, The
artist was given seat with the
mighty. looked up to, patronlzed.
The Hudson River School was being
replaced by Inness and his followers.
who strove to interpret rather than
copy nature-the giants that were to
come were foreshadowed in the cur
rent eXhibitions-especially those Of
the Academy.
Chase made friends and before
very long he got together enough
money to go abroad-the mecca Of
every young artist in those days.
Because his funds were limited he
went not to Paris, but to Munich,
where he entered the Royal Acad-
envy and received instruction from
Piloty and Kaulbach. but better still
made contact and fell under the in
f1uence of William Leibl, one of the
strongest and best painters of the
clay. In Munich Chase made con-
tact also with other young Amer
leans destined to exert a strong in
fluence on the art of this country
Frank Duveneck, Walter ShirlaW.
with whom he roomed; Frederick
Dieiman, Twachtman, Blum and
others. And what good times they
had! With Duveneck and TWacht-
man, he spent nine months in Venice.
where he met Gedney Bunce and
others. who became lifetime friends.
,r-l,i1o ct;l1 oh l1of
Chase was offered a position to
teach In the Art Students League
of New York-a position which he
held for over 81 years and through
which he eXerted strong influence on
the students of younger generations
He was born teacher. In 1892 his
house at Shinnecock, Long Island
was completed. and there later on
he established what was perhaps the
first and certainly one of the most
successful summer schools of art in
this country.
To Shinnecock went for instruc-
ton art students from all over the
country-and Chase taught them
rot only to paint, but to see. Wisely
lie dllOWCu lt.Clll llCCdOlll VI CApl cS-
sion while at the same time he gave
them rules for guidance For in
stance, he would say, Paint the com.
monplace so that it will be dis.
tinguished" Or. Paint so well thai
you conceal your industry Dom
confuse technic with slashing brush
strokes-remember Holbein."
On Mondays there was criticism
in the studio; on Tuesdays the stu
dents were shooed out of doors tt
do their best, or their worst-theil
own hunting"
Y There were great play times al
Shinnecock-tableaux within door
-picnics in the open. The master
was held in great regard but wa!
always the leader in amusements.
In 1896 new path opened, ane