52

WILLIAM MERRITT CHASE

American, 1849-1916

"Portrait of a Lady with a Rose" (Miss Mary Shepard Lukens), ca. 1901

oil on canvas
signed center right "Wm. M. Chase"
48 x 36 in. (121.9 x 91.4 cm.), Frame: 59 3/4 x 47 3/4 x 4 1/2 in. (151.8 x 121.3 x 11.4 cm.)

  • Provenance: Mr. Charles Lukens, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1901; by descent to Miss Mary Shepard Lukens, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Hammer Galleries, New York, by 1995; Private Collection, New York
  • Exhibited: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, "Seventh Annual Exhibition", January 14-February 3, 1901, no. 211 (winner of The Temple Gold Medal); Buffalo, New York, Pan American Exposition, 1901, no. 611 (as Miss. M.S. Lukens); New York, New York, National Academy of Design, Annual Exhibition, 1902, no. 335 (as Miss S.L. Lukens)
  • Literature: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Seventh Annual Exhibition, exhibition catalogue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1901, n.p., cat. no. 211 (illustrated); "The Philadelphia Inquirer", January 27, 1901 (illustrated); "American Art Annual", 1903-04, p. 233; R.G. Pisano, "William Merritt Chase", New York, 1979, p. 8; R.G. Pisano, "William Merritt Chase: Portraits in Oil", vol. 2, (New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press, 2006), p. 174, cat. no. OP.338 (illustrated).
  • Notes:
    This painting is one of Chase's premier portraits, with the original exhibition frame described as one of the finest carved exhibition frames known.

    In Ronald Pisano's catalog on the artist, he notes the following about this painting:

    In 1896 Chase began teaching at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Along with his teaching, Chase also pursued portrait commissions in Philadelphia. Although high society was reluctant to accept an "outsider" to paint their portraits, they gradually gave in to Chase's charm and his impressive reputation as a portrait painter, and it was not long before he was reported to have gained "quantities" of friends and portrait commissions in Philadelphia. In 1901 Chase featured the present work in the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts annual exhibition. The identity of the sitter, Mary Shepard Lukens, would have been easily recognizable to Philadel­phia society by her image alone, which was reproduced in the catalogue for the show. And, for those who might not recognize her by sight (since her name was not given in the title of the work), her identity would have been easily determined by the listing of the lender, Charles Lukens, her father. When this painting was awarded the honor of receiving the Temple Gold Medal in the show, it served as further evidence of Chase's endorsement by Philadelphia's social elite. The portrait was also referred to in the American Art Annual (1903-4: 233). Numerous portrait commissions followed, as wealthy Philadelphians arranged for appointments at Chase's elegant studio. And, although Chase decided to give up his position as an instructor at the academy in 1909, he continued to main­tain his studio in Philadelphia through 1913.

    Lady with a Rose was clearly painted as an "exhibition piece," intended not only to please his sitter but to impress the art world as well. The background of the painting deliberately does not detract attention from the sitter, and the strong light draws the eye to his expert technique in the depiction of her dress and the rose. The subject's reserved demeanor likely reflects the conservative standards of Philadelphia society, as does the fact that her jewelry is limited to two small gold brace­lets on her left wrist and the slight indication of a gold pin in her hair. Chase would appear to utilize such elements for the purpose of enlivening his painting with simple but brilliant accents, rather than indicating the sitter's social station. Similarly, the rose held at the sitter's side, a standard symbol of youth and beauty, is elegantly used by Chase to anchor the composition.
  • Condition: in very good overall condition; lined canvas; no restoration apparent under UV; fine crazing visible; additional photos available upon request

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