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MR. W. M. CHASE MARRIES HIS MODEL.
The Artist a Benedict for One Year and a Father for One Week.

William M. Chase, the well-known painter, one of the founders of the Society of American Artists, the proud proprietor of the most gorgeous and unique studio in New York and the intimate friend of Whistler, has announced to his friends that he is married to Miss "Tony" Gerson, an exceedingly pretty and vivacious young woman who for two or three years has posed as his model.

The news travelled through the art world with great rapidity yesterday, and the studios, not only in the Tenth street building where Mr. Chase is located, but also in the other studio buildings about town, fairly buzzed with the surprise. Among his friends Mr. Chase was regarded as a bachelor of the most confirmed type. He was known to be a man of peculiarly luxurious tastes and social ambition. As to Miss Gerson kind words and generous praise were lavished on every hand, but the idea of a painter so prominent as Chase marrying his model startled the artistic fancy and started a myriad of conjectures. It was true that she had not been a model for everybody. Mr. Chase had been fortunate enough to secure her services when she first began to pose, and he has monopolized her time ever since. She is now about twenty years of age.

A mysterious and interesting feature of the case, and one which lent vitality to the gossip and gave it stronger wings than it otherwise would have had, was that Mr. Chase was able, at the same time that he announced the fact of being a husband, to mention also that he was a father. He had been married a year and there was a baby in the case. Here was a rare bit of news for the colony of artists' wives. No such sensation had varied the monotony of Academy exhibitions and Chickering Hall picture sales for many a long day. Beyond the mere fact of announcing his new responsibilities, however, Mr. Chase vouchsafed no information to his closest friends.

Miss Antonio Gerson, now Mrs. Chase, the artist's bride, is a handsome and spirited brunette of good family. The figure-piece in last summer's loan exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is now at the American Art Gallery, is painted with her as a model. It pictures a young lady in a corduroy cloak and hat against a peculiar vine background, and is very effective. No special attempt has been made to conceal the likeness, so that the reproduction of Mrs. Chase's features is exceedingly faithful. Her figure is lithe and well rounded, and altogether she has the quality attaching to all good models, which is described among artists as paintable.

Her sister, Miss Virginia Gerson, is a clever and intelligent girl, who made a success not long ago with a book in the Under-the-Window Series, whereof both the illustrations and the letter-press were of her own making. The family, as the name indicates, is German.

William M. Chase is a handsome, well-formed man, of something under forty years of age, and belongs to what is known as the new school of American art, which has done much to revolutionize American painting during the last decade. Chase studied in Munich, and came back to America about ten years ago. Shirlaw, Dillman, Weir and other well-known artists returned about the same time. But Chase was generally recognized as the boldest, the most adventurous and the most progressive spirit among them. Some six years ago he established himself in the biggest and best studios in the Tenth street building. They are located on the ground floor, and were before that occupied by Albert Bierstadt. One of the studios was an immense exhibition room. Here he hung his pictures and located his pupils. He has had as many as a dozen pupils at a time, and his tuition fees are understood to be $1,200 a season. In fitting up his rooms he spared no expense. His passion for color is unquenchable and he has filled his walls and his floors with hangings, scarfs, cloths, silks, tapestries and bric-à-brac of all kinds. He has educated himself in this direction unintermittently and painters unite in saying that he has achieved harmonies of color which set all theories at naught. In the summer of 1885 Mr. Chase went to England and spent two or three months at Whistler's house. While he was there the artists amused themselves painting each other's portraits. Chase's picture of Whistler has been exhibited at private views and has been declared to be a very characteristic piece of work.

Artists marrying their models is a subject which seems to capture the fancy of the novel writer, but has, so far as New York experience goes, been illustrated very infrequently in real life. Mr. Freer married his model last summer, a very handsome and worthy young lady named Keenan. The engagement was duly announced, and during the year preceding the marriage Miss Keenan, of course, posed for no artist save her future husband.
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Freddy [[Struse?]] called today for the things Sara sent down for his mother in my bundle. He was neatly dressed and looked bright and intelligent. He had about all he could carry and I gave him five cents to ride. Went to Dr. Taylors. This evening went around to the club but did not stay long. Vedder was there, just arrived from Rome but I did not speak with him as he was engaged with several people.

Friday Feb. 18" 1887. I am occupying my new room tonight. My bed is here, the stove is carried up but there is no fire in it, it being fortunately warm enough without it. My carpet is down in the centre of the floor and much of the furniture is huddled in the centre of it. I think the room is going to be delightful and I feel a sense of exultation in having secured it. I did not fully realize how uncomfortable I was in the limited space of my old studio. Curiously enough I leave the old room where I have been for thirty of the most important and eventful years of my life, a place crowded with the tenderest associations, without a regret. I am glad I can at last so easily escape from my surroundings when I have outgrown them. I presume if I had removed from the building entirely I should have felt all these influences and been saddened by them. Bradford called while I was in the direst confusion and said he was going about to some of the studios with a gentleman next Tuesday and I told him I would be fairly settled by that time.  Bradford is always very kind in that way and a few years ago took a great deal of pains to sell Earl Grosvernor a picture of mine for a thousand dollars. It has rained in violent showers all afternoon and this evening we have had prolonged thunder and lightning.

Saturday 19". A beautiful day and so mild that I need no fire in my room. The painters finished this afternoon touching up the walls in my old room wherever I had marred them. The carpenter still lingers and talks me nearly to death. The painters remarked it today and I heard one of them say to the other he was glad to get away for a little time. However he is obliging and I have to listen to his stories. Most of my things were carried up and and the stove put up and I have begun arranging. Had to break off and go to Dr. Taylors at three which I did not do yesterday. Saw Nannie up there. She says she is decidedly better. Went around to the club and staid until midnight.  

Sunday 20". At work all day in my room getting it settled. Put down my bedroom carpet which I had to fit and sew the border to, but it is very nice. My room is delightful and although there is yet much to be done the effect is most satisfactory. Not like a bric=a=brac shop but like a cheerful, tasteful comfortable studio. Calvert came over just before dinner and was delighted with it. Bowyer came over towards evening and he too was greatly pleased. He selected a little picture which he is going to send to a friend in Ohio who wants to do something for him