Ο William Merritt Chase (1849-1916) ήταν ένας πρωτοποριακός Αμερικανός ζωγράφος και εκπαιδευτής, σύμβολο του ρεύματος της Ιμπρεσιονιστικής σχολής. Δημιούργησε έργα με έντονα χρώματα και φωτισμό, επηρεάζοντας πολλές γενιές καλλιτεχνών.
Chase and his wife, Alice, had eight children, all of whom appeared in the artist"s portraits and figure studies. This portrait is of Roland Dana Chase (1901–1980), the Chases" youngest son. Writing in "Harper"s Weekly" in 1901, a critic applauded: "Witness the portrait of "Roland," who is depicted with splendid brush-work as a rollicking brown rogue, holding in his admirable baby hand the only note of color—a red ball."