“Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.”*
by chuckofish
Today is the birthday of William Merritt Chase (November 1, 1849 – October 25, 1916) who was an American painter, known as an exponent of Impressionism and as a teacher.
But did you know that he was born in Indiana? Me neither. Although he studied for a short time in New York City as a youth, he was forced to leave New York in 1870 due to declining family fortune and return to St. Louis (!) where his family was then based. While he worked to help support his family, he became active in the St. Louis art community, winning prizes for his paintings at a local exhibition. Chase’s talent elicited the interest of wealthy St. Louis collectors who arranged for him to visit Europe for two years, in exchange for paintings and Chase’s help in securing European art for their collections. Well, well…
Anyway, I especially like his interiors with all their detail…
Self-portrait, 1915
Chase won many honors at home and abroad, was a member of the National Academy of Design, New York, and from 1885 to 1895 was president of the Society of American Artists. After a long and successful career, Chase died on October 25, 1916, at his home in New York City, an esteemed elder of the American art world. He was interred in Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York.
Today his works are in most major museums in the United States. We even have a couple in the Saint Louis Art Museum:
So a toast to old William Merritt Chase and…one more shout out for 500 years of speaking truth to power…
*Henry Ward Beecher
dual personalities 
The details are lovely! Love the last meme… and it’s also John Candy’s (would-be 67th) birthday!!
Love this–and that meme!
The paintings are lovely and I really enjoy the meme!
Wonderful paintings, and that meme is great!