International studio (60.1916/1917)

William Merritt Chase: his Art and his Influence


ONE OF THE FIVE PILOTY CHILDREN
BY WM. M. CHASE
for the finer tones and juxtapositions, the closer
values; comparative blacks or contrasted whites,
with a significant accenting touch of light or
dark. But most effective of all is his subtle,
reserved yet striking manner of using a small
amount of colour in such a way that it tells for
ten times its quantity and speaks more authori-
tatively than an overwhelming brilliance. The
Red Box is an example of this. The most trumpet-
like proclamation of scarlet could not penetrate
more keenly, seize more compellingly upon the
imagination than do the elusive quirls and splashes
leading up to the final '‘let go” on the wide patch
of the pinkish red sleeve and the coral glow of
the red box—no priceless Japanese lacquer, by
the way, but a hasty “fake” contrived at a
desperate hurry call by the unfailingly skilful
hands of his wife.
“The keynote” and “the repeat” are among
the phrases of the studio most frequently upon
the lips of the student and the chronicler of art
when engaged in discussion of colour composition
—so much so that they are almost vulgarized out
of their original meaning. The principle involved
has become a familiar, not to say hackneyed
maxim of art to the young painter, who con-
scientiously remembers and applies it, if seldom

with originality or distinction. But William
Chase who perceived and conclusively demon-
strated with his “touch” this rhythmic law in
art remains still past master in the use of it.
Chase’s influence upon modern art was not only
through the silent influence of his art itself. He
had enormous classes of pupils in New York,
Philadelphia and Hartford, and for a short time
in Chicago and California, in addition to his sum-
mer school at Shinnecock and the summer student
expeditions to Europe. Many of his pupils be-
came themselves painters of note. All must have
learned something of the right appreciation and
true spirit of art. And in another way not gen-
erally realized, Chase contributed with utter un-
selfishness to the cause of art. For thirty-five
years he served upon the jury at the large annual
exhibitions, not only giving opportunity and en-


HIS DAUGHTER DOROTHY

BY WM. M. CHASE

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