(1859-1927) Born in Fall River, Chapin was a life-long resident of the city and a student of leading still life painter Robert S. Dunning. Chapin himself taught at the Fall River Evening School and lectured frequently in Fall River. He was a prolific artist who also painted landscapes, though he is best known for the fine still life paintings in the style popularized by Dunning. His work seems to be divided into two styles; one tending to a lighter palette with softly-rendered forms, the fruit (generally peaches and grapes) arranged on a highly-polished surface. His second distinctive style is set outdoors, fruit (often berries tumbling from baskets), situated directly on the ground and a vague, greenish landscape in the background. Though Chapin made several trips to Europe to paint landscapes, he spent virtually his entire career in his native Fall River, where he died in 1927. Many of his paintings have been preserved at the Fall River Public Library. Always highly regarded, Chapin continues to be recognized as one of the foremost artists of the Fall River School.

Biography courtesy of Roger King Gallery of Fine Art, www.antiquesandfineart.com/rking

Bryant Chapin is known for his many still lifes, although he also painted landscapes and portraits during his 40-year career. A member of the Fall River School of Massachusetts painters, he studied with Robert S. Dunning as a young man. Dunning's influence can be seen particularly in Chapin's early work.

Like Dunning, Chapin painted fruit on highly polished tables with elaborately carved edges and deep reflections. Grapes and peaches were favorite subjects, but Chapin also introduced the open orange. The palette in these early works is light, the forms rather hazy and the light soft.

Born in Fall River in 1859, Chapin spent most of his life there. He taught at the evening Drawing School and lectured on art. He did travel several times, however, to paint landscapes in landscapes in Europe. He died in Fall River in 1927.

Chapin was very conscientious about his paintings and imbued them with a wistful mysticism which made them popular. His later still lifes are more distinctive because they are set outdoors.

Many of these paintings are of berries, some in wooden berry boxes and some on bare ground. The edges, especially of strawberries, were ideal for heavy highlights. Chapin's style was so fluid and soft, however, that the very paint surface suggests cushioning for the tender fruit.

Public Collections:
Fall River Public Library, Massachusetts

Biography courtesy of Roughton Galleries, www.antiquesandfineart.com/roughton