Chase, William Merritt (1849–1916)

US painter. He painted figures, landscape, still lifes, and many portraits, including those of the painters James Whistler and Frank Duveneck. In technical brilliance he bore some resemblance to John Singer Sargent. He established an art school in New York.

Born in Franklin, Indiana, he was a pupil of B F Hays in Indianapolis and of J O Eaton in New York. He later studied in Munich under Karl von Piloty and Wagner, but was later more favourably influenced by Whistler.

In New York he established the Chase School of Art 1896 and was eminent among the American artists of his time, being president of the Society of American Artists for ten years.