William Merritt Chase: The Complete Catalogue of Known and Documented Work by William Merritt Chase (1849-1916), Vol. 1: The Paintings in Pastel, Monotypes, Painted Tiles and Ceramic Plates, Watercolors, and Prints

by Ronald G. Pisano, Marjorie Shelley, D. Frederick Baker

The first in a beautiful four-volume complete catalogue of all known works by the beloved American artist William Merritt Chase

A perennial favorite of museum visitors, the works of William Merritt Chase (1849–1916) embody the quintessential characteristics of American outdoor landscapes, a colorful palette, and an energetic brushstroke. He was also a portrait painter of the first rank, a master of still life, a renowned teacher, and a leader of artists’ societies.

This gorgeous book, the first of a four-volume definitive catalogue, features Chase’s stunning paintings in pastel, which constitute a major and previously understudied body of work by the artist; monotypes; painted tiles and plates; watercolors; and prints. Reconstructing Chase’s oeuvre is a daunting task, as the artist left few records of any kind, and no documentation of his individual works exists. Furthermore, Chase’s paintings and pastels have been forged in great numbers throughout the years, and many of these works still surface on the art market. Making this long-awaited volume even more valuable is a list of every known exhibition of Chase’s work during the artist’s lifetime, selected examples of major post-1917 exhibitions, and an essay on Chase’s innovative pastel technique.

Genres: Art

160 pages, Hardcover

First published May 31, 2006

Reviews

[Anodos]

Chase is an interesting artist and the technical analysis of his work here is quite solid. Unfortunately, he kept notoriously few records or logs of his work, so much of the book involves trying to piece together his ouvre with others' lists of his titles. I thought my wife, with a Master's Degree in Library and Information Science, might be interested in their process; she thinks they did a noticeably unprofessional job of it. You should definitely research William Merritt Chase further if you like pastels or are interested in his distinctive blend of realism and impression.