A dramatic, windswept upper sky is echoed by the circular motion describing the land forms and distant hills below. There is an ambiguous definition of the horizon line as the cloud and distant hills merge. Light escapes the dark mass of cloud above to heighten the greens of the foreground. This image is alive with movement.
Details
Heavy watercolour paper. The texture is rough No watermark found.
Condition
Good.
Artist
Artist Name
Michael Chase
Birth Year
1915
Biography
After the Second World War, Michael Chase began work as a trainee at a British interior decorating firm, which propelled him into the career of an art gallery administrator shortly thereafter. He worked at the Kensington Art Gallery and most notably the Zwemmer Gallery in London from 1954-65. After moving to Colchester, he became the director of the Minories Gallery (1966-75), and in 1975, devoted his attention to painting fulltime.
He was awarded the Barcham Green Award at an open exhibition at Bankside Gallery, London in 1986. He also exhibited at the John Russell Gallery in Ipswich in 1994 and later at the Chappel Galleries.
He had close contact with many leading artists of the day, including John Piper, Michael Rothenstein, Edwards Bawden, Julian Trevelyan, John Nash and Winifred Nicholson, which provided the background of his artistic education as opposed to a more conventional means of study in art schools. He also gave the Australian painter Arthur Boyd his first London showing.
Since 1976, he has had some 20 solo exhibitions all over England in addition to taking part in many group exhibitions and open shows. His works are featured in many private and public collections.
Death Year
2001
Image Dimensions (inches/centimetres)
Image Height (inches)
26.25
Image Width (inches)
33.5
Image Depth (inches)
0.01
Image Height (centimetres)
64
Image Width (centimetres)
89
Image Depth (centimetres)
0.1
Substrate Dimensions (inches/centimetres)
Substrate Height (inches)
26.75
Substrate Width (inches)
34
Substrate Depth (inches)
0.01
Substrate Height (centimetres)
68
Substrate Width (centimetres)
68
Substrate Depth (centimetres)
86.4
Matted?
Yes
Mat Dimensions (inches/centimetres)
Mat Height (inches)
21.5
Mat Width (inches)
27.75
Mat Height (centimetres)
54
Mat Width (centimetres)
71
Framed?
Yes
Frame Dimensions (inches/centimetres)
Frame Height (inches)
21.5
Frame Width (inches)
28
Frame Depth (inches)
0.75
Frame Height (centimetres)
1.5
Acquisition Type
Purchase
Essays
Michael Chase began his career as a gallerist and only began painting full time in 1976 when he became utterly captivated by the medium of watercolour. Paying particular attention to the visual ingredients a physical place portrays, he painted mostly abstract landscapes, drawing inspiration from visits to France, Italy, Greece and Egypt, as well as England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. He quickly became known for his innovative use of large tubes of paint rather than tiny amounts of colour in a box, as well as all sorts of house painting brushes. These methods opened doors for him and invitations to exhibit soon followed. Sources of inspiration came from Paul Nash, Arthur Boyd and Paul Klee.
Exhibitions
Selected Solo Exhibitions:
1981, The Minories, Colchester.
1992, Clare Hall, Cambridge.
1994, John Russell Gallery, Ipswich.
1996, Chappel Galleries, Essex.
