Crucifixion, William Merritt Chase (c.1872–1879)

Crucifixion, William Merritt Chase (c.1872–1879) William Merritt Chase’s Crucifixion reveals a side of the artist far removed from the sunlit Impressionist landscapes that later defined his career. Painted early in his life, during or soon after his studies in Munich, the work is steeped in deep tonalities and dramatic shadow. The scene is rendered with somber gravity, reflecting the influence of the Munich School’s realism and its emphasis on chiaroscuro. Best known today as a celebrated teacher and a painter of light-filled modern life, Chase here confronts one of Western art’s most enduring subjects with restraint and reverence. The subdued palette and tightly composed forms invite contemplation, offering a rare glimpse into the formative period of an artist who would later embrace an entirely different visual language. In Crucifixion, Chase demonstrates not only technical mastery, but also a capacity for emotional depth that underpins his more famous, luminous works. Cotton and pol