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Francis Chapin Art

American, 1899-1965
Francis Chapin, affectionately called the “Dean of Chicago Painters” by his colleagues, was one of the city’s most popular and celebrated painters in his day. Born at the dawn of the 20th Century in Bristolville, Ohio, Chapin graduated from Washington & Jefferson College near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania before enrolling at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1922. He would set down deep roots at the Art Institute of Chicago, exhibiting there over 31 times between 1926 and 1951. In 1927 Chapin won the prestigious Bryan Lathrop Fellowship from the Art Institute – a prize that funded the artist’s yearlong study trip to Europe. Upon his return to the United States, Chapin decided to remain in Chicago, noting the freedom Chicago artists have in developing independently of the pressure to conform to pre-existing molds (as was experienced by artists in New York, for example). Chapin became a popular instructor at the Art Institute, teaching there from 1929 to 1947 and at the Art Institute’s summer art school in Saugatuck, Michigan (now called Oxbow) between 1934 – 1938 (he was the director of the school from 1941-1945). A prolific painter, Chapin produced numerous works while traveling in Mexico, France, Spain, Saugatuck and Martha’s Vineyard, where he frequently spent summers and taught at the Old Sculpin Gallery there. Chapin was best recognized for his dynamic and vibrant images of Chicago during the 1930s and 40s. Chapin was a resident of the Old Town neighborhood where he lived and kept his studio on Menomonee Street for many years. Described as a “colorful figure, nearly 6 feet 6 inches tall, and thin, and usually wearing tweeds”, it is easy to imagine Chapin at work observing the busy street life of the city. In addition to his many exhibitions at the Art Institute of Chicago, Chapin’s work was shown during his lifetime at such institutions as the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia; the Corcoran Gallery, Washington, D.C.; the National Academy of Design, New York; the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York and the Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, among others. Francis Chapin’s paintings are represented in the collections the Art Institute of Chicago; the Friedman Collection, Chicago; the Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown; the Denver Art Museum; the Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse; the Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach; the Telfair Museum of Art, Savannah and the Brooklyn Museum of Art, among others.
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Artist: Francis Chapin
A Wonderful, 1950s Mid-Century Modern Portrait Painting of a Boy with a Trumpet
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A Wonderful, 1950s Mid-Century Modern Portrait Painting of a Boy with a Trumpet by Noted Chicago Artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). Artwork size: 8 3/4” x 6 1/4” (Framed size...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Masonite, Oil

A Delightful, 1950s Mid-Century Modern Portrait of a Young Boy in Blue Scarf
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A Delightful, 1950s Mid-Century Modern Portrait, "Boy in Blue Scarf" by Noted Chicago Artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). Artwork Size: 11 3/4” x 9 1/4” (Framed size: 15 1/2” ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Masonite, Oil

A Charming, 1950s Painting of a Little Girl, "Red Smock" by Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A Charming, 1950s Painting of a Little Girl, "Red Smock" by Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). What a character! A little gem of a painting. Artwork size: 8” x 4” (Framed size: 11” ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Masonite, Oil

A Charming, 1950s Mid-Century Modern Portrait of a Young Boy in Blue Hat
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A Charming, 1950s Mid-Century Modern Portrait of a Young Boy in Blue Hat by Noted Chicago Artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). Artwork Size: 9 x 6 1/4” (Framed size: 11 1/2” x...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Masonite, Oil

A Cheerful 1950s Modern Portrait of a Young Woman by Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A Cheerful, 1950s Modern Portrait of a Young Woman with Blonde Hair by Noted Chicago Artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). Artwork size: 7 1/2” x 5 1/4”, oil on masonite (Framed ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Masonite, Oil

A Fabulous 1950s Mid-Century Modern Portrait of a Seated Woman, "Southern Belle"
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A Fabulous 1950s Mid-Century Modern Portrait of a Seated Woman, "Southern Belle" by Noted Chicago Artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). A colorful Southern painting depicting a ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Masonite, Oil

Colorful, 1930s American Scene Painting "House with Gable" by Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A vibrant 1930s American Scene painting of a sunlit Victorian house by noted American Modern painter Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). Very reminiscent of Edward Hopper's artwork, the...
Category

1930s American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Oil, Board

A Charming 1950s Modern Portrait of a Young Woman by Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A Charming, 1950s Modern Portrait of a Young Woman in a Red Sweater by Noted Chicago Artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). Artwork size: 8” x 6”, Oil on Masonite (Framed size: 11...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Masonite, Oil

Untitled
By Francis Chapin
Located in Dallas, TX
Francis Chapin was one of the most celebrated painters in Chicago during his lifetime. When he was a young art student, Valley House founder, Donald Vogel, painted with "Chape" on th...
Category

1930s American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Ink, Paper, Watercolor

A Delightful Painting of a Young Boy Sketching in a Boathouse by Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A Delightful Painting of a Young Boy Sketching in a Boathouse by Noted Chicago Modern Artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). Painted circa 1958 at the artist's summer house and st...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Oil, Board

A Fabulous Mid-Century Modern Portrait of a Woman by Noted Artist Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A Fabulous Mid-Century Modern Portrait of a Young Woman by Noted Chicago Artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). Depicting a wonderfully fashionable woman dressed in a red sweater, ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Masonite, Oil

An Elegant Modernist Portrait of a Young Woman in Red Dress by Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
An Elegant 1940s Modernist Portrait of a Young Woman a Red Dress by Noted Chicago Artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). A beautifully executed studio portrait, the painting is oil...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Masonite, Oil

An 1950's Modernist Watercolor of Amsterdam by Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A colorful & charming, Mid-Century, architectural, cityscape of Amsterdam by artist Francis Chapin. Artwork size: 7 3/4" x 10 3/4. Archivally matted to 14" x 18". Provenance: Est...
Category

1950s Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Watercolor, Paper, Ink

A ca. 1954, drawing of a Notre Dame Football Game by Artist Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A ca. 1954 pastel & charcoal on paper drawing of a Notre Dame football game by artist Francis Chapin. Artwork size: 12" x 19". Archivally matted ...
Category

1950s American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Paper, Charcoal, Pastel

Charming Mid-Century Modern 1950s Portrait of a Young Girl by Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A charming, beautifully painted, Mid-Century Modern portrait of a young girl by noted Chicago artist, Francis Chapin. Dating from the 1950s, the painting was exhibited at the famed ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

A ca. 1958 Lithograph in Colors Titled "Edgartown Yacht Club" by Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A ca. 1958 lithograph in colors titled "Edgartown Yacht Club" by notable Chicago artist Francis Chapin. Image size: 13 1/2" x 20 1/4". Archivally matted to: 19 1/2" x 26". Prove...
Category

1950s American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Color, Lithograph

A Still-Life Painting of a Ceramic Elephant and a Red Pillow by Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
An amusing, ca. 1940, oil on board, still-life painting of a ceramic elephant and a red pillow by Francis Chapin. Painting is in a dark wood frame. Image size: 8 1/2" x 10 1/2". ...
Category

1940s American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Oil, Board

A 1950s Industrial Scene of a Dockyard Truck in a Busy Martha's Vineyard Harbor
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A colorful, 1950s industrial scene painting of a dockyard truck in a working Martha's Vineyard boat harbor by notable Chicago artist Francis ...
Category

1950s American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Masonite, Oil

A ca. 1958 Lithograph Titled "Edgartown Harbor" by Artist Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A ca. 1958 lithograph titled "Edgartown Harbor" by notable artist Francis Chapin. Image size: 14 3/4" x 19 3/4". Archivally matted to: 22 1/2" x 26 1/2". Provenance: Estate of t...
Category

1950s American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Lithograph

A 1950s Pastel and Charcoal Drawing of a Hockey Game by Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
Perfect for your hockey enthusiast! A 1950s pastel on paper drawing of a hockey game by Francis Chapin. Image size: 9" x 12". Matted size: 14" x 18". Provenance: Estate of the artist. Francis Chapin, affectionately called the “Dean of Chicago Painters” by his colleagues, was one of the city’s most popular and celebrated painters in his day. Born at the dawn of the 20th Century in Bristolville, Ohio, Chapin graduated from Washington & Jefferson College near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania before enrolling at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1922. He would set down deep roots at the Art Institute of Chicago, exhibiting there over 31 times between 1926 and 1951. In 1927 Chapin won the prestigious Bryan Lathrop Fellowship from the Art Institute – a prize that funded the artist’s yearlong study trip to Europe. Upon his return to the United States, Chapin decided to remain in Chicago, noting the freedom Chicago artists have in developing independently of the pressure to conform to pre-existing molds (as was experienced by artists in New York, for example). Chapin became a popular instructor at the Art Institute, teaching there from 1929 to 1947 and at the Art Institute’s summer art school in Saugatuck, Michigan (now called Oxbow) between 1934 – 1938 (he was the director of the school from 1941-1945). Chapin’s contemporaries among Chicago’s artists included such luminaries as Ivan Le Lorraine Albright...
Category

1950s American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Paper, Charcoal, Pastel

Untitled (Boat Repair)
By Francis Chapin
Located in Dallas, TX
Francis Chapin was one of the most celebrated painters in Chicago during his lifetime. When he was a young art student, Valley House founder, Donald Vogel, painted with "Chape" on th...
Category

1940s American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Untitled
By Francis Chapin
Located in Dallas, TX
Francis Chapin was one of the most celebrated painters in Chicago during his lifetime. When he was a young art student, Valley House founder, Donald Vogel, painted with "Chape" on th...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

“Seated Girl”
By Francis Chapin
Located in Warren, NJ
Francis Chapin original watercolor “seated girl”. In good condition measures 36x23
Category

20th Century Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Watercolor

A 1930s Oil on Masonite, Still-Life Painting of a Table Top by Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A ca. 1935, oil on Masonite, still-life painting featuring a spoon, salt & pepper shakers, bottle, egg and an artichoke by artist Francis Chapin. Painting is in a gray, painted wood...
Category

1930s American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Masonite, Oil

A 1964 Lithograph Titled "Afternoon Race, Edgartown" by Artist Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A 1964 lithograph titled "Afternoon Race, Edgartown" by notable Chicago artist Francis Chapin. Image size: 14 1/2" x 19 3/4". Archivally matted to 22 1/2" x 28". Provenance: Est...
Category

1960s American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Lithograph

A ca. 1928 Drawing of a Dapper Man with a Pint Glass by Artist Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A ca. 1928 charcoal on paper drawing of a dapper man with a pint glass by artist Francis Chapin. Image size: 12" x 9". Matted size: 14" x 18". Provenance: Estate of the artist. Francis Chapin, affectionately called the “Dean of Chicago Painters” by his colleagues, was one of the city’s most popular and celebrated painters in his day. Born at the dawn of the 20th Century in Bristolville, Ohio, Chapin graduated from Washington & Jefferson College near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania before enrolling at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1922. He would set down deep roots at the Art Institute of Chicago, exhibiting there over 31 times between 1926 and 1951. In 1927 Chapin won the prestigious Bryan Lathrop Fellowship from the Art Institute – a prize that funded the artist’s yearlong study trip to Europe. Upon his return to the United States, Chapin decided to remain in Chicago, noting the freedom Chicago artists have in developing independently of the pressure to conform to pre-existing molds (as was experienced by artists in New York, for example). Chapin became a popular instructor at the Art Institute, teaching there from 1929 to 1947 and at the Art Institute’s summer art school in Saugatuck, Michigan (now called Oxbow) between 1934 – 1938 (he was the director of the school from 1941-1945). Chapin’s contemporaries among Chicago’s artists included such luminaries as Ivan Le Lorraine Albright...
Category

1920s American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Paper, Charcoal

A ca. 1958 Lithograph Titled "Edgartown Harbor" by Artist Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A ca. 1958 lithograph with applied pastel titled "Edgartown Harbor" by notable Chicago artist Francis Chapin. Image size: 14 3/4" x 19 3/4. Archivally matted to: 20" x 25 1/2". ...
Category

1950s American Modern Francis Chapin Art

Materials

Pastel, Lithograph

Francis Chapin art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Francis Chapin art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Francis Chapin in paint, oil paint, masonite and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Francis Chapin art, so small editions measuring 10 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Frank Wilcox, Alfred Bendiner, and Harold Haydon. Francis Chapin art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $850 and tops out at $12,500, while the average work can sell for $1,800.

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