Allure: Figure Studies by Francis Chapin

April 10th - May 10th, 2024

In 1927, Francis Chapin won the prestigious Bryan Lathrop Fellowship from the Art Institute of Chicago, a prize that funded the young artist’s seminal year-long study trip to Paris. Paris, in the early Twentieth Century, was the center of the art and cultural world. Many young artists commenced on a “Grand Tour” of Europe in order to study and to provide inspiration for their budding careers. Chapin would have been exposed to all of the ‘isms’ that could be found within the “School of Paris,” including Cubism, Fauvism, Surrealism, Expressionism and Post-Impressionism.

Chapin then returned to the United States and brought the bold colors of European Modernism along with him, adapting it to American-themed artwork. He was influenced by the figural aesthetics of Marc Chagall and the vivid palate of Raoul and Jean Dufy. While Chapin’s urban or city scenes tend to show a more dark and brooding realist character, his intimate figural works are typically light and vivacious.

He had a long career as an important instructor at the Art Institute of Chicago, teaching there from 1929 to 1947 and at the Art Institute’s summer art school in Saugatuck, Michigan (Oxbow) from 1934 to 1938 (Chapin was the director of the school from 1941-1945). He is fondly considered the “Dean of Chicago Artists” from that time.

Enjoy our Francis Chapin tribute to the School of Paris, “Allure: Figure Studies by Francis Chapin”, which runs at the Gallery from April 11 through May 10, 2024. Part of the proceeds of this exhibition benefits the Northwestern Medicine Department of Psychiatry.

Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Seated Nude), ca. 1930s

Watercolor on paper

19 x 11 3/4 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#20106
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Standing Nude), ca. 1930s

Pastel on paper

13 3/4 x 11 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#20140
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Seated Nude), ca. 1930s

Watercolor on paper

12 x 18 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#20108
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Seated Nude), ca. 1950

Ink and watercolor on paper

12 x 9 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#20300
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Seated Nude), ca. 1950

Watercolor and pastel on paper

12 3/4 x 10 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#14019
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Seated Nude), ca. 1940s

Watercolor and charcoal on paper

15 1/2 x 9 3/4 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#20080
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Seated Nude), ca. 1948

Watercolor on paper

16 x 12 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#12734
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Seated Nude), ca. 1950

Watercolor on paper

22 1/4 x 14 3/4 inches

Signed Francis Chapin and estate stamped on reverse

#13990
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Seated Nude), ca. 1950

Watercolor on paper

14 x 11 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#14017
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Seated Nude), ca. 1948

Watercolor on paper

18 x 12 1/4 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#14024
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Couture), ca. 1935

Watercolor, pastel and charcoal on paper

14 3/4 x 10 1/4 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#19732
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Seated Nude), ca. 1950

Watercolor, pastel and charcoal on paper

23 x 17 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#13992
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Seated Nude), ca. 1945

Watercolor on paper

17 x 9 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#14029
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Seated Nude, ca. 1948

Watercolor on paper

16 x 10 1/2 inches

Signed Francis Chapin, lower right; Estate stamped on reverse

#14040
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Bather), ca. 1948

Watercolor on paper

3 3/4 x 9 1/4 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#12731
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Ballet), ca. 1950

Watercolor on paper

9 x 12 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#14050
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Ballet), ca. 1950

Watercolor on paper

9 x 12 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#14048
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Dancers), ca. 1950

Watercolor and pastel on paper

9 x 12 1/4 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#12730
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Standing Dancer), ca. 1930s

Watercolor and ink on paper

11 x 8 1/2 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#20124
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Standing Dancer), ca. 1930s

Watercolor and ink on paper

11 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#20134
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Dancers), ca. 1940s

Watercolor, pastel and graphite on paper

7 x 11 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#7064
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Dancers), ca. 1950

Ink and charcoal on paper

10 3/4 x 13 3/4 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#20179
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Dancers), ca. 1950

Ink on paper

10 3/4 x 13 3/4 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#20180
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Reclining Nude), ca. 1930s

Watercolor and ink on paper

11 1/2 x 14 1/2 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#20135
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Tennis Player), ca. 1950

Watercolor on paper

15 1/2 x 10 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#14032
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Figures in a Garden), ca. 1950

Pastel and graphite on paper

9 x 12 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#12869
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Seated Nude), ca. 1950

Pastel on paper

16 x 10 1/4 inches

Signed Francis Chapin, lower right; Estate stamped on reverse

#14018
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Standing Nude), ca. 1930s

Charcoal and pastel on paper

12 x 9 1/4 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#14001
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Figure Study, Standing Nude), ca. 1930s

Watercolor on handmade paper

18 x 12 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#20304
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Seated Nude), ca. 1950

Watercolor, ink and pastel on paper

11 1/2 x 9 inches

Signed Francis Chapin, lower right; Estate stamped on reverse

#12790
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Reclining Nude), ca. 1948

Watercolor on paper

9 1/2 x 12 3/4 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#14020
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Seated Nude), ca. 1930s

Watercolor on paper

17 x 11 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#20145
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Seated Nude), ca. 1950

Watercolor and pastel on paper

19 x 13 1/4 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#13996
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Figure Study, Standing Nude), ca. 1930s

Pastel and watercolor on paper

18 x 12 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#20305
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Seated Nude), ca. 1930s

Pastel on paper

11 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches

Signed F. Chapin, lower right; Estate stamped on reverse

#14002
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Figure Study (Reclining Nude), ca. 1935

Charcoal on paper

11 x 17 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#12780
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Standing Nude, Back), ca. 1930s

Watercolor on paper

18 x 12 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#20111
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Seated Nude), ca. 1930s

Watercolor on paper

12 x 18 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#20107
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Figure Study, Standing Male), ca. 1930s

Watercolor and ink on paper

12 x 9 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#20149
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Reclining Nude), ca. 1930s

Charcoal on paper

11 x 14 inches

Signed Francis Chapin, lower right; Estate stamped on reverse

#20315
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Figure Study, Kneeling Male), ca. 1930s

Charcoal on paper

14 x 11 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#20154
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Reclining Nude), ca. 1930

Charcoal and watercolor on paper

9 3/4 x 12 3/4 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#12883
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Reclining Nude), ca. 1930s

Watercolor on paper

12 x 16 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#14034
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Reclining Nude), ca. 1930s

Charcoal on paper

9 3/4 x 12 3/4 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#6959
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Seated Nude), ca. 1930s

Charcoal on paper

12 1/4 x 9 1/2 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#20100
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Study of Renior “Nymphes”, ca. 1928

Graphite on paper

5 x 8 inches

Titled and inscribed lower left; Estate stamped on reverse

#20307
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Standing Nude), ca. 1940s

Watercolor and ink on paper

15 3/4 x 10 1/4 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#20081
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Figure Study (Seated Nude), ca. 1935

Charcoal and ink on paper

12 x 9 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#12796
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Seated Nude), ca. 1930s

Charcoal on paper

13 1/2 x 9 3/4 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#20139
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Figure Study, Seated Male Model), ca. 1930s

Ink on paper

16 3/4 x 11 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#20102
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Artist’s Studio, Paris), ca. 1927

Graphite on paper

8 1/2 x 11 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#7100
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

A Summer Sketch (Figures on a Pier), ca. 1950s

Watercolor and pastel on paper

11 x 13 inches

Signed Francis Chapin, lower right; titled on reverse

#14060
Francis Chapin - Figure Studies

American, 1899 - 1965

Untitled (Portrait of a Young Woman), ca. 1950s

Pastel on paper

4 1/2 x 3 inches

Estate stamped on reverse

#20048

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