A City Park

c. 1887

William Merritt Chase was one of the most influential painters at the turn of the 20th century. In this painting, which probably depicts Brooklyn’s Tompkins Park, half the canvas is filled by the wide, empty walkway. Its strong diagonal borders carry the eye into the scene. This informal piece, capturing the sparkle of a summer day, affirms the fresh perspective Chase brought to painting scenes like this one.

Public domain · CC0
Free to download and reuse. Image courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago.

Artist

William Merritt Chase (American, 1849–1916)

Date

c. 1887

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

34.6 × 49.9 cm (13 5/8 × 19 5/8 in.)

Origin

New York City

Collection

Art Institute of Chicago

Credit

Bequest of Dr. John J. Ireland