William Merritt Chase (American, 1849-1916)
Koto Robertine Chase Carr Sullivan, ca. 1914
Oil on canvas
43 x 34 inches
Gift of Morris I. Kaplan
1964.2
A gifted artist and influential teacher, William Merritt Chase was an extraordinarily versatile painter of light-filled Impressionist landscapes, decorative interiors, and realistic still lifes. Perhaps best known as one of the most accomplished portraitists of his day, Chase’s favorite models and subjects were his beloved wife and their eight children. Praised for their brilliant technique, sophistication, and charm, these deeply personal portrayals of his family embody the artist’s most magnificent and compelling work. An outstanding example of the artist’s mature style, this portrait of Koto reveals Chase’s vigorous brushwork, bold color palette, and masterful handling of light and shadow.
This rare and ravishing portrait by William Merritt Chase depicts the artist’s second daughter, Koto Robertine, as an elegant woman in her twenties.