Artwork
Marine
Marine is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist William Merritt Chase. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The physical construction utilizes a rigid panel rather than canvas, a common choice for smaller studies and finished works by Chase during this period.
Created in 1888, William Merritt Chase's Marine is an oil painting executed on a panel support. The work measures 23.3 cm in height and 31.5 cm in width. Classified as a marine genre piece, the artwork features the artist's characteristic handling of oil paint to depict a seascape subject.
The physical construction utilizes a rigid panel rather than canvas, a common choice for smaller studies and finished works by Chase during this period.
History & Provenance
William Merritt Chase created the oil painting Marine in 1888. Executed on a panel support, the work measures 23.3 cm in height and 31.5 cm in width. The piece was produced in the United States during the artist's career.
The painting eventually entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is held under the accession number 1957.422. This acquisition indicates the work has been part of the museum's holdings since at least 1957.
William Merritt Chase's 1888 painting Marine is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, United States. The work, executed in oil on panel, carries the museum's accession number 1957.422. The painting measures 23.3 cm in height and 31.5 cm in width.
Context
William Merritt Chase painted Marine in 1888, an oil on panel work now held by the Cleveland Museum of Art. The painting exemplifies Chase's impressionistic treatment of coastal light and was created during his mature period in the United States. Its reception and scholarly analysis have engaged with themes of American impressionism and the artist's role in shaping transatlantic marine painting traditions.
Overview
Created in 1894, Marine is an oil painting by American artist William Merritt Chase. Executed during the height of American Impressionism, the work depicts a tranquil seascape rendered in a muted palette of gray‑blue tones. The composition centers on calm water, with distant vessels that recede into the horizon, conveying a sense of quiet stillness.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a peaceful maritime scene, emphasizing the gentle undulation of the sea rather than dramatic action. By focusing on the subtle interaction of light and water, Chase invites contemplation of nature’s quiet rhythms, suggesting a contemplative mood that aligns with the Impressionist interest in fleeting atmospheric effects.
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Artist & collection
Artist
William Merritt Chase (November 1, 1849 – October 25, 1916) was an American painter, known as an exponent of Impressionism and as a teacher.
