Elizabeth Chase (1906 – 1996)

Untitled Portrait Head (perhaps Arnold Geissbuhler, the artist’s husband), bronze, signed verso, 11 x 9 x 7 inches (excluding base)

$2500

Elizabeth Chase was a sculptor, printmaker, painter, art writer, and translator. She was born in Newton Falls, Massachusetts, and first became interested in sculpture at age twelve when she accompanied her aunt to an exhibition by Clio Bracken. Chase studied at the school at the Museum Fine Arts Boston where she won sculpture prizes as a student. She later spent five years studying in Paris, much of the time working under Antoine Bourdelle who had been a student of August Rodin. Chase was one of Bourdelle’s favorite pupils. She also studied tapestry design and weaving. While in Paris, she met and later married the Swiss-born sculptor Arnold Geissbuhler, who is likely the subject of the present work. Chase sculpted in bronze, marble, terra cotta, pewter and cement. In Paris, she exhibited at the Salon des Tuileries. Chase and Geissbuhler returned to the US and lived in Massachusetts and periodically returned to France. Chase excelled at sculpting heads. She explained, “Interesting head, one that show interesting mentalities and have souls are marvelous to do. But sitters expect you to beautify them in your creation. That, of course, is something you cannot always do as an artist.” In addition to her fine art practice, she became a writer and translator and a leading expert on Bourdelle and Rodin. Her work is in the collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art.