Frank Swift Chase (1886 - 1958)

A prodigious legacy. Justly venerated paintings. A mere seven year ascendency to acclaimed exhibitions among the most prestigious art institutions in America. Founder of art associations and colonies. Outdoorsman. Teacher. The undisputed Dean of the Nantucket Art Colony, Frank Swift Chase’s far-reaching influence is perhaps best articulated by Robert Frazier, in his article, Grounded at Sea Level: Frank Swift Chase on Nantucket published by the Nantucket Historical Association; Historic Nantucket, Summer 2007 (Vol. 56, No. 3)

Chase’s paintings capture an emotional tension typical of the American Naturalist tradition. Confident brushwork energizes wet-to-wet impasto, projecting authoritative color in a natural landscape, through a Tonalist’s softly veiled light and shadow.
“[His] love of color meant love of paint draped like vines over forest or field.” – Gary Irving; Frank Swift Chase Retrospective Exhibition, Vose Galleries, Boston, MA, 1985.

Through his energy, vision, fraternity and teachings, Chase’s influence on the history of American Art is significant. – Carolyn Walsh

Exhibitions

1918 – 1923 Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
1919 – 1923 Corcoran Gallery
1920, 1924 Newport Artists Association (first prize)
1921 Salmagundi Art Club
National Academy of Design
1922 Art Institute of Chicago (Peabody Prize)
Eastman School of Music
Rochester Memorial Art Gallery (New York)
Philadelphia Arts Council
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Herron Art Institute
1923 Indiana Artists Association
Carnegie Institute
Peabody Art Gallery, Baltimore
1924 Art Directors Club (medal)
1928 San Diego Fine Arts Gallery
1953 Kenneth Taylor Gallery, Nantucket
1954 Nantucket Artists Association.
Woodstock Artists Association
Springfield Artists Association

Recent Examples at Auction