Old Glory by Rod Chase - Full Image
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Tell Me MoreOld Glory on Acorn Street in Beacon Hill
Beacon Hill is a neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts, that borders the Boston Common and the Boston Public Garden. It covers about one square mile and is presently home to approximately 10,000 people. It is a neighborhood of Federal-style row houses, with some of the highest property values in the nation. Known for its narrow streets, brick sidewalks and gas-lit streets, it has been home to many famous Americans including Louisa May Alcott, Robert Frost, John Hancock, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Henry Cabot Lodge, Sylvia Plath, David Lee Roth, Carly Simon and Daniel Webster to name a few. "Acorn Street, which is pictured in ‘Old Glory’, is a narrow lane within Beacon Hill that is paved with cobblestones. It is often mentioned as the most picturesque street in Boston. At twilight, the focal point of the whole street is the flag which literally glows in the dimming light. Elements in the painting are sometimes changed for both metaphoric and aesthetic reasons. The street light on the upper left is not lighted. This I did to keep the eye traveling to the interior of the lane. If it had been lit, it would have reflected off all the brick walls around it taking the viewer to that area rather than down the lane to ‘Old Glory’.” - Rod Chase DF About The ArtistAs one of today’s finest and most recognized photorealist painters, Rod Chase has earned the highest respect of his peers and the admiration of legions of collectors. Each painting from the artist’s easel is a masterpiece created from extensive research and numerous photographs of each of his subjects. This technique, along with the aid of historical photographs, results in a timeless quality in each of Chase’s works. In his quest for mystique, accuracy, and a true sense of history, Chase does extensive research. His travels have led him from New York and Washington, D.C. to Colorado and California and finally to Italy in a never-ending search to obtain materials and photography for new paintings. The talented artist says, "Being a photorealist, I am dependent on finding accurate reference material for each painting.” Chase works with acrylics on canvas, spending hundreds of hours on each painting with the ultimate goal of presenting a fresh, unique, and elegant approach to familiar subjects. The detail in each painting is remarkable, but the mood each is equally impressive. Chase is acknowledged as a master of breathtaking scenes depicting our country’s natural and historical treasures. He has painted images of such famous landmarks as The White House, the Capitol, and the Supreme Court building to name a few. As a naturalized citizen, he felt honored as well as professionally challenged to paint these subjects. Chase also paints magnificent foreign landscapes. His travels in Italy inspired him to paint St. Peter’s Basilica and the romantic canals of Venice. The artist’s outstanding talent in his use of light is evident in "The Glory of San Pietro” and "The Mists of Morning.” Without traveling to these world-famous locales, the viewer is able to feel as if the scene is unfolding before them in person. Rising early to photograph the dramatic light of sunrise or awaiting the soft, moody glow of sunset, Chase captures the emotion and direction in which he will paint his subject. The artist will continue to create elegant, awe-inspiring scenes by combining antique and modern photographs with just the right touch of artistic license. Rod Chase is represented by Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art in San Antonio, Texas. He is published exclusively by Somerset Fine Art. Chase, a native of Canada, and his wife live with their five children in the Texas Hill Country. In 1999, he became a United States citizen. View Related SubjectsMore Info |
