Francis Chapin Paintings
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.to
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Artist: Francis Chapin
An Introspective, Modern 1940s Portrait of a Seated Young Ballet Dancer
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A captivating, Modern 1940s portrait painting of a young female ballet dancer by famed Chicago artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). A skilled and expressive studio portrait of a ...
Category
1940s American Modern Francis Chapin Paintings
Materials
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 Paintings
Materials
Masonite, Oil
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 Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
A Vibrant, Mid-Century Modern Portrait of a Young Woman in a Yellow Blouse
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A Vibrant, Mid-Century Modern Portrait of a Young Woman in a Yellow Blouse by Notable Chicago Artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). Oil on Masonite, dating circa 1945. Artwork Si...
Category
1940s American Modern Francis Chapin Paintings
Materials
Masonite, Oil
A Vibrant, 1950s Modern Landscape Oil of Martha's Vineyard, "Tree in Tisbury"
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A Vibrant, Colorful 1950s Mid-Century Modern Painting of Martha's Vineyard by Famed Chicago Artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). Titled "Tree in Tisbury", the painting depicts a ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Francis Chapin Paintings
Materials
Masonite, Oil
A Colorful, 1950s Painting of Martha's Vineyard, Old Whaling Church, Edgartown
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A Vibrant, Colorful 1950s Mid-Century Modern Painting of Martha's Vineyard by Notable Chicago Artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). The painting depicts a picturesque scene of the...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Francis Chapin Paintings
Materials
Masonite, Oil
A Charming, 1950s Expressionist Portrait of a Young Girl by Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A Charming, 1950s Expressionist Portrait of a Young Girl by Famed Chicago Modern Artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). A wonderful, intimate Mid-Century studio portrait of a young...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Francis Chapin Paintings
Materials
Masonite, Oil
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 inches (Framed...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Francis Chapin Paintings
Materials
Masonite, Oil
A Wonderful 1950s Mid-Century Modern Portrait of a Young Woman Seated at a Table
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A wonderful 1950s Mid-Century Modern portrait of a young woman seated at a table by famed Chicago artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). Great color palette and expressive, contemp...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Francis Chapin Paintings
Materials
Canvas, 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 Paintings
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 Notable Chicago Artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). Artwork Size: 9 x 6 1/4 inches (Framed size: 1...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Francis Chapin Paintings
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 this one is! A little gem of a painting. Artwork size: 8 x 4 inches (...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Francis Chapin Paintings
Materials
Masonite, Oil
A Lovely ca. 1930s Watercolor of Summer Nocturne Moonrise by Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A lovely 1930s watercolor on paper of a summer nocturne moonrise by famed Chicago Modern artist Francis Chapin. A captivating dune landscape completed while Chapin was an instructor...
Category
1930s American Modern Francis Chapin Paintings
Materials
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 Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
A Captivating 1930s Portrait of a Young Woman, "Green Scarf" by Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A captivating 1930s Modern portrait painting of a young woman, titled "Green Scarf", by famed Chicago artist, Francis Chapin. Image size: 14 1/4 x 10 inches. Framed size: 15 1/...
Category
1930s American Modern Francis Chapin Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
A Colorful 1950s Mid-Century Modern Painting of a Bull Fight by Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A colorful, 1950s Mid-Century Modern painting of a bull fight by notable Chicago artist, Francis Chapin. Oil on canvas, in a dark walnut brown stained frame. Painted most likely in...
Category
1950s American Modern Francis Chapin Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
A Large and Impressive Painting of a Standing Nude by Artist Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A large 1930s painting of standing female nude by notable Chicago Modern artist Francis Chapin, in a gold-toned frame. Artwork size: 43 3/4 x 29 3/4 inches; Framed size: 49 1/2 x...
Category
1930s American Modern Francis Chapin Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
A Busy 1950s Martha's Vineyard Harbor Scene, Dockyard Truck by Francis Chapin
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A colorful, 1950s industrial harbor scene painting of a dockyard truck in a working Martha's Vineyard boatyard by notable Chicago artist, Francis Chapin. Completed near the artist's...
Category
1950s American Modern Francis Chapin Paintings
Materials
Masonite, Oil
Little River
By Francis Chapin
Located in Sheffield, MA
Francis Chapin
American 1899-1965
Little River
Oil on canvas
28 by 40 in. W/frame 38 by 50 in.
Dubbed the Dean of Chicago Painters in the 1930s, 40s and 50s, Francis Chapin painte...
Category
1920s Post-Impressionist Francis Chapin Paintings
Materials
Oil
$12,500
Francis Chapin paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Francis Chapin paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Francis Chapin in oil paint, 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 paintings, so small editions measuring 10 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Philip Evergood, Harold Vincent Skene, and Ben-Zion Weinman. Francis Chapin paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,200 and tops out at $12,500, while the average work can sell for $1,800.