Robert Merrill Chase, Sr
Robert (Bob) Merrill Chase, Sr. (b. December 5, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois — ) is an American art dealer, gallerist, lecturer, philanthropist, and a collector of paintings, sculpture and works on paper from the 16th through 20th centuries. Chase co-founded four companies in the fine art business.[1][2][3] Chase is also the publisher of Frederick Hart sculpture,[4] the author of articles in three monographs on Frederick Hart, and is the President of the Frederick Hart Foundation.[5][6]
Chase is the husband of Moya deLatour Chase, former director of ARTique, an art boutique in Chicago,[7][8][9] and the father of Robert Chase, Jr., an art dealer.[10][11] Bob and Moya Chase reside in Southwest Florida. They have two children[9], Robert Chase, Jr. and Lara Chase Compton, and six grandchildren.
Early life
Robert “Bob” Merrill Chase, Sr. was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1940. His father, Merrill Chase, was a portrait photographer who owned Merrill Chase Photography Studios,[12] with locations in the Palmer House Hotel and on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, as well as 11 other sites nationwide.[8][13] His mother, Ann Nicholl Chase, was an elementary school teacher who retired to raise their family in 1937.[14]
At an early age, Chase developed an interest in art from visits to the Art Institute of Chicago with his mother.[15] Also, around 1960, Chase was on a family trip to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and saw an exhibition of Salvador Dalí’s "The Divine Comedy" at the Irving Galleries.[16] In 1969, Chase would meet Dalí and develop a long association with him, representing his work and commissioning major art collections.[15]
Chase attended the Latin School of Chicago and Lakeview High School, in Chicago.[8] He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1962.[8] While in college he met Moya deLatour Watson, and the couple married in 1965.[9] During high school and college, Chase had summer jobs selling greeting cards and magazines door-to-door, which, according to his son, Bob Chase, Jr., was influential in his approach in business because it “required a high level of knowledge about the product, developing a relationship with the customer, seeing how people lived, what they thought about their homes, and earning their trust.”[11]
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1962, Chase was invited by his father to join his photography business, but he wanted to pursue a career in the fine art business.[8] At the time, he was living in the Lincoln Park neighborhood on Chicago’s north side, which had an emerging community of artists and actors and was home to The Second City and the Old Town School of Folk Music. There, Bob and Moya visited local art galleries, and became acquainted with the owners and local artists, including painters and printmakers Gustav Likan[8] and Robert Addison, whom Bob represented for more than 20 years.[17][18]
Career
Merrill Chase Galleries
Bob Chase opened his first fine art gallery in 1964, selecting a suburban location in a new mall, Oakbrook Terrace (later Oakbrook Center), located in Oak Brook, Illinois.[1][8] Initially, the gallery was a combination art gallery and photo studio but, within six months, the gallery business took off and the company formally became Merrill Chase Galleries Ltd in 1964,[19] with Bob Chase as President and Merrill Chase as honorary Chairman of the Board.[8] By 1978 Merrill Chase Galleries was one of the nation’s largest privately owned fine art dealerships, with more than 150 employees and 13 galleries.[1] In 1987, after 25 years in business, Merrill Chase Galleries was acquired by Fine Arts Group Ltd., a company owned by the Pritzker family of Chicago.[20] Bob Chase continued as CEO and President of the gallery business for five years.[20]
Sculpture Group Limited
In 1984, Bob Chase and Ronald K. Parker, founded Sculpture Group Limited, an art publishing enterprise.[3][21] Artists whose sculptural works were commissioned by Sculpture Group include Felix DeWeldon, the creator of the United States Marine Corps War Memorial depicting the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima in Washington, D.C.;[22] Frederick Hart; LeRoy Neiman; and sculptor Frank Gallo.[23]
Chesley, LLC
In 1986, Bob Chase and Frederick Hart established a partnership, Chesley LLC. After Hart’s death, Chesley became a partnership with the Estate of Frederick Hart and Lindy Lain Hart.[2] In 2010, the Frederick Hart Foundation was formed with Chase as President.[6][5] The mission of the Foundation is to preserve and perpetuate the ideals set forth by Frederick Hart.[6]
Chase Art Companies
In 1995, Bob Chase joined his son, Bob Chase, Jr. in forming Chase Art Companies, an artist management and publishing organization that offers projects and career development to select contemporary artists and arts organizations.[24] Chase Art Companies also includes Hexton Gallery in Chicago, Illinois and Aspen, Colorado[25][26] and Narrative Galleries in Laguna Beach, California.[27][28]
Salvador Dalí
Chase met Salvador Dalí in 1969 and over many years, they would meet at Dalí’s home in Port Lligat, Spain in 1972.[28][9][29] at Le Meurice, a hotel in Paris, and at the St. Regis in New York City.[15][28] Dalí took a liking to Chase and dubbed him “Mr. Chicago,” a nickname that stuck throughout their collaborative years.
In 1970, Chase commissioned Dalí to create four drypoint etchings, collectively entitled "Visions of Chicago."[29] The suite was comprised of personal interpretations by Dalí of four Chicago landmarks that defined the city and its spirit: Buckingham Fountain, The Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Science & Industry and the Chicago Water Tower.[30] A set of the etchings is in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
In the early 1970s, Chase commissioned Dalí to create 10 original paintings and a suite of 10 mixed media graphics that became Dalí's "Imaginations and Objects of The Future."[15][31][32][33] Chase's idea for the project stemmed from Dalí’s interest in Leonardo da Vinci and his conceptual scientific and futuristic thinking.[15] According to Chase, Dalí responded to the idea by proclaiming, “Bravo! Dalí will create the future.”[34] Dalí and Chase unveiled one of Dalí’s 10 "Imaginations and Objects of the Future" paintings at a press conference on March 6, 1975.[35]
Frederick Hart
Beginning in 1980, Chase became Frederick Hart's publisher,[2][36] and in 2010 became the President of the Frederick Hart Foundation.[37][38][6]
The relationship began in 1980, when Chase was on a plane returning home from a buying trip in Europe and, reading an art journal, saw a photo of Hart’s clay model for "Ex Nihilo" (Out of Nothing),[37][39] designed for the center tympanum of The Creation Sculptures ensemble on the west facade of Washington National Cathedral. Chase said that "upon seeing the model, he felt a life force emerging from the page, and was compelled to meet the artist and shake the hand that had shaped that sculpture."[34] The next day, Chase spoke with Hart by phone and received an invitation to meet at Hart's studio,[40] an unheated cold-water garage on P Street in Washington, D.C.[37]
Hart and Chase spent several years developing a way of casting figurative sculpture in clear acrylic and locating foundries able to create Hart's acrylic sculpture.[41] They subsequently collaborated on the casting of life-size and smaller scale bronze and marble works.[41]
Selected philanthropy
In 2018, Bob Chase and Lindy Lain Hart, the wife of sculptor Frederick Hart, made a multi-million dollar gift of more than 250 works of art by the sculptor.[37][6][4] to the Frederick Hart Studio Museum at Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee.[6]
In addition, Chase has contributed works of art to the Art Institute of Chicago.[42][43][44] Among many other charities, Bob and Moya Chase have contributed regularly to the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation,[45] Gulfshore Playhouse,[46][47] and Artis—Naples[48] all located in Naples, Florida; and to the Marco Island Center for the Arts.[49][50] in Marco Island Florida.
Selected bibliography
McDonald, Elvin, “Always Chasing Art” in Traditional Home magazine, September/October, 2000. Feature article about Bob and Moya Chase, about their businesses, their art collection, and their family.
Hubbell, Craig, “La Casa Que Canta” in Los Angeles Home & Décor magazine, 2006. Feature article about Bob and Moya Chase.
Skolnik, Lisa, “The Art Lovers” in Quintessential New Trier magazine,, 2011. Feature article about Bob and Moya Chase.
Chase, Robert, “Transcending Tradition: The Cast Acrylic Resin works,” Frederick Hart, Sculptor, Hudson Hills press, 1994, pages 73-80, ISBN 1-55595-120-1. Source contains an essay by Robert Chase on the process and technique of casting in clear acrylic resin.
Chase, Robert, “Preface,” Frederick Hart, Changing Tides, Hudson Hills Press, 2005 pages ix-xi, ISBN 1-55595-233-X. Robert Chase authored the preface to the book, in which he describes meeting Frederick Hart in and their friendship and business relationship, including their collaboration in developing a technique for casting in clear acrylic resin.
Chase, Robert, “Preface,” Frederick Hart, The Complete Works, Butler Books, 2007, pages ix-xi, ISBN 1-884532-85-3. Robert Chase authored the preface to the book, which summarizes the career of Frederick Hart and describes the sculptor's unique contribution to art.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Merrill Chase Galleries Named Nation's Largest Art Dealer". Southtown Star. Tinley Park, Illinois. October 12, 1978. p. 49.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Hart, Frederick (2007). Frederick Hart : the complete works. Frederick Turner, Donald B. Kuspit (1st ed.). Louisville: Butler Books. ISBN 978-1-884532-85-6. OCLC 140107412. Search this book on
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bianchi, Laura (May 21, 1987). "Chasing the world for art for the masses". Suburban Living. Arlington Heights Daily Herald. Arlington Heights, Illinois. p. 71.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Hefner, April (April 1, 2019). "Belmont University Dedicates Frederick Hart Studio Museum". Belmont University. Nashville, Tennessee.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 April, Hefner (April 1, 2019). "Belmont University Dedicates Frederick Hart Studio Museum". Belmont Vision (Belmont University).
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 "Hart's Studio Recreated". The Frederick Hart Studio Museum.
- ↑ Sammons, Mary Beth (May 30, 1984). "Shop features flavor of world travel". Section 2. Daily Herald. Arlington Heights, Illinois. p. 15.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 Coburn, Marcia Froelke (February 23, 1986). "A friendly face in world of art Gallery co-founder wants to brush away everyday people's fears". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 3.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 "He cornered the market on Dali creation". The News Tribune. Fort Pierce, Florida. May 25, 1975. p. 14.
- ↑ Boessenkool, Antonie (October 26, 2015). "Dr. Seuss' 'Secret Art' on display in Laguna Beach". The Orange County Register.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "ART DEALER SHOW - Guest Bob Chase, Jr. - Part I" (podcast). December 22, 2016.
- ↑ "Merrill Chase, 78; Ran Chain Of Art Galleries". Chicago Tribune. November 6, 1987.
- ↑ Lazarus, George (April 30, 1980). "Merrill Chase looks at the bigger picture". Chicago Tribune. pp. C6. ProQuest 170116312.
- ↑ "Ann Chase (obituary)". Chicago Tribune. December 5, 2010.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 Artner, Alan G (March 30, 1975). "Salvador Dali fantasizes the future: How a Chicago art dealer endured kicks and cold shoulders to seal a commission with the supreme egotist". Chicago Tribune. p. 140. ProQuest 169358987.
- ↑ Sjostrom, Jan (December 13, 2017). "Longtime Worth Avenue art dealer Irving Luntz dies". Palm Beach Daily News.
- ↑ Helse, Kenan (April 16, 1988). "Building artist Robert W. Addison". Chicago Tribune. p. 7. ProQuest 882581857.
- ↑ "Local artist sees work as classic, timeless". Austin American Statesman. April 6, 1990.
- ↑ "Trademark application for Merrill Chase Galleries LLC".
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Swanson, Stevenson (October 30, 1988). "Pritzker buys chain of galleries". Chicago Tribune.
- ↑ Schwartz, Noaki (June 24, 2000). "Artist's works popular with thieves". Los Angeles Times.
- ↑ Yasui, Todd Allan (July 2, 1990). "The Disappearing de Weldons". Lifestyle. The Washington Post. Jo Ann Lewis.
- ↑ "Frank Gallo, American Born 1933". ArtNet.
- ↑ "Chase Art Companies Company Overview". Chase Art Companies.
- ↑ Benowitz, Shayne (July 6, 2022). "Hexton Gallery Debuts Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Ephemeral Nature". Aspen Magazine.
- ↑ Reynolds, Jacqueline (September 21, 2021). "Hexton Gallery debuts local artist program". Aspen Daily News.
- ↑ Gelt, Jessica (August 15, 2018). "The secret nighttime paintings of Dr. Seuss". Chicago Tribune.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 "Narrative Gallery - Salvador Dali".
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 "The Artistic Connection — The Thrill of the Hunt, Recollections of Robert Chase, Art Dealer and Collector". The Pulse magazine. 3, Edition 2, May-June-July- August, 2013.
- ↑ James, Kallahan (2016). "Dali - Visions of Chicago". Vimeo.
- ↑ "Salvador Dail, Imaginations and Objects of the Future". Sotheby's.
- ↑ "He Cornered the Market on Dali Creation". The News Tribune. Fort Pierce, Florida. May 25, 1975. p. 7.
- ↑ "Salvador Dali - Visions of Chicago; Salvadore Dali 1904 - 1989". Lockport Street Gallery.
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 "Marco Island Center for the Arts 'Recollections of a picture dealer: Salvador Dali and Me'". Naples Daily News. Naples, Florida. January 22, 2015.
- ↑ "Salvador Dali Posing with Painting". Getty Images. March 6, 1975.
- ↑ "Premiere Viewing Of Frederick Hart Documentary Film". Cision PR Web. May 5, 2010.
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 "Frederick Hart Chronology". Frederick Hart.
- ↑ Hefner, April (December 5, 2018). "Museum Celebrating Renowned 20th Century Sculptor Frederick Hart to Open at Belmont".
- ↑ Booth, Sarah (September 1979). "A Genesis in Stone". Horizon Magazine. Horizon Publishers, Inc. 22 (9): 28–38.
- ↑ Frederick Hart: Changing Tides. Frederick Turner, Michael Novak (1st ed.). New York: Hudson Hills Press. 2005. ISBN 1-55595-233-X. OCLC 56982375. Search this book on
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 Frederick Hart: Sculptor. Commentary by Tom Wolfe; Essays by Homan Potterton, James M. Goode, Frederick Downs, Jr., Frederick Turner, Donald Martin Reynolds, James E. Cooper, Robert Chase; Introduction by J Carter Brown (1st ed.). New York, NY: Hudson Hills Press. 1994. pp. 73–80. ISBN 1-55595-120-1. OCLC 32342904. Search this book on
- ↑ "Joseph's Coat Brought to Jacob; 18th c.; Artist: Rembrandt van Rijn; Etching in black on ivory wove paper; Gift of Bob and Moya Chase". Art Institute of Chicago.
- ↑ "City Scene with Nuns Date; c. 1947; Artist: Robert William Addison; Oil on canvas; Gift of Moya and Bob Chase". Art Institute of Chicago.
- ↑ "A Walk in the Snow Date: 1880; Artist: James Tissot; Etching and drypoint in black and red on ivory laid paper; Gift of Bob and Moya Chase". Art Institute of Chicago.
- ↑ "Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation 2020 Donor Impact Report". 2020. p. 21.
- ↑ "Gulfshore Playhouse 2019-2020 supporter list". Gulfshore Playhouse. Naples, Florida. 2020. p. 33.
- ↑ "Playbill for Gulfshore Playhouse 2020-2021 Season".
- ↑ "2019-2020 Artis—Naples Annual Report". ArtisNaples.org. 2020. pp. 18, 19.
- ↑ Sue, Keller (February 16, 2015). "Art lovers turn out for gala masquerade ball". Home. Marco Eagle. Marco Island, Florida.
- ↑ Shearer, Lance (February 10, 2014). "'Rhapsody in Black': Marco Island Center for the Arts holds 1920s-themed gala". Community. Naples News. Naples, Florida.
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