This biography from the Archives of AskART:
| Elsie Roland was born in Sarasota Springs, New York on Feb 17, 1863. She was raised in the company of close family and loving friends. Elsie was the daughter the Rev. Dr. Edmond Roland. The family was well to do they enjoyed privileges designated to the higher classes. After completing the required elementary and high school courses, her artistic drives became evident. While in her early twenties she applied for and was accepted to the Yale School of Fine Arts.
During her stay at Yale, Ms. Chase was able to hone the necessary skills to become a professional artist. Endless studio hours were spent drawing objects rendered under conditions of light and shade. Anatomy lectures were required as a prerequisite for life drawing class. She diligently painted portraits, genre subjects and still lifes conforming to classic standards. The young artist graduated from Yale in 1889.
After leaving school, Chase became a member of the prestigious New Haven Paint and Clay Club. She was a member of the National Society of Woman Painters, The Society of Independent Artists, The Hartford Art Club, and The National Art Club along with many other art related organizations. She was multi talented as a painter, Illustrator, etcher and writer.
Justine Chase, the artist's daughter, mentions her mother's love of speaking and reading the French language. Some of her paintings appear to be influenced by the French Impressionists. Some of her subjects, especially children, are related to the influence of Mary Cassat and Berth Morisot.
Eventually, Chase met and married Fredric Starkweather Chase. He was born July 2, 1862 and graduated from Yale in 1887. The couple was married on February 17, 1890. He was a successful industrialist whose family owned The Waterbury Manufacturing Co. He built an impressive home in the Brass City, that included an art studio for her an a large library. Their home was fully staffed with butlers, chauffeurs, maids and gardeners.
Her studio was just a short distance from the business district of Waterbury which was dominated with factory buildings, large and small. In contrast, she was also familiar with the surrounding areas of Litchfield County. She could access views of rustic farmhouses, surrounded by freshly plowed fields juxtaposed by acres of
untamed woods. Her artistic vision was formulated by her observations of both city and country life.
Chase signed her paintings using her full name, Elsie Roland Chase, giving credit to both her maiden and married names. She often used her immediate family as models for her paintings. The book, A World Remembered, by her daughter, Justine Chase contains many color reproductions of the artist's work. Her daughter recounts in detail many Chase family experiences. Chase lived a joyful and creative life and died comfortably in her home in Connecticut in 1937. After a long and fruitful life of seventy-four years, she was well prepared to take the next artistic journey.
Source:
Jim Kieley, Woodbury, Connecticut 03/16/05
References: Who was Who in American Art, Peter Falk; Mantel Fielding's Dictionary of Painters, Etchers, and Sculptors, Opitz; A World Remembered by Justine Chase (Yankee Books); Family Records of the Chase Family; Information from The Mattatuck Museum, Waterbury, Connecticut
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