The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-09-29


England. where they all were?
Not very long after this period, Mr.. Cltra-
marine, the famous artist, was arranoino ,b,.
drapcry on his lay-feure. A lay-fsurc is a
huge doll usually about five feet three in
he'Sht, kept in artists studios. Its joints are
flexible. back, arms, neck, ct cetcra, movable
at will :; itcan be made to stand up, to sit
or he down, in fact, NAV be put in anv pos
t"rc; Its limbs, bust. body. are stuffed ont 50
as to c!evcrly represent womanitv. in perfect
and divine proportions: but lis ordinary use
Is to be dressed np like lady, and to act rs
such IN the >tn,l'. For example, Mrs IIoni
ton Is sitting for her portrait. the lovely face.
the rounded arms, the tapcr finocrs. are
transferred to the canvass: but Mrs. Ilon;
tons elaborate dress must also be painted.
and two hours sitting. dav after day. is
tireSome and tedious. The lav-firure then
becomes useful, and plays brief part in So
r'e'v. For period. it represents Mrs. Iic
nton. While Mr. U.tramarine is fiui>hjn,
the picture. il wears her broca,les. yclyetS.
s!iawlS bertha. bracelets, lace sleeves. with
becoming dignity. There is one peruliar
ty IN lav-h.nrcs. sometimes oler;onablr.-
They are apt to transfer an air of stiffness 10
The likeness; this. however. NAV also be I'm
the original. and then tie ctlec, is wonder
ful.
Mr. tltram could not arrange The
: draiery on :hc lay figure 10 sriit his fancv.-
The dehca'e. careless curve of Mrs. Uonito, :
arm. holding the throw oft shawl. was be-
von'! the lag Fl cures ability So Mr.. Ultra
marine gave it up. and went on setting his
pallet. with now and then fien!i>h look al.
: his lay-!icure. There was that rigid arm.
stili,v holding ont the shawl. with the IRE j.
ion ofporcelain; completely excluding the
idea Mr.. L. wished to portray. of careless
ness.
There Is always. III every studio Of every
I artist in the city of New York. in the morn
! irc before visitors arrive, respectable. cl-
I d"riv female. Her duties are sweeping and
: dnSiing. BY constantly breathing its marir
I atmosphere. She often gains an intuitiye per
y ccp'ion of art beyond even the skill OF the
newspaper critic. The respectable e,,l.rl,
Y female who was putting Mr.. U.,ran.arinc 4,
: ri-h;>, understood the difficulty at once. She
= glanced at the artist and a. The shawlcJ man
. maxim. Then She hu>h,d the music OF tn,
broom aa'i SAID. timi !lv, PLEASE. sir. ,her,
; Is POOR creature. a Young Enrli>h girl. sir.
! "la'; 10 earn shilling or two: and she would
a hold Your shaw! Just As Won wan: it Mr.. III
, 'ramarine squeezed little verniilion ont o.
The capsule upon his pallet. and looked up
" Hum" he rcplicd,"a coarse creature.
presume. This was said in kind voice.
with lingering accent on a." coarse creature
that did not convey harshncss hv anv nean.
No. sir" She answered, IL would call hey
an English hcau:v. The finest face and fiy-
: nrr. sir Dear me" SAID the artist. why
'i'i Vow not speak of it before? Car Won
: bring her now Mrs Hill :" IL can. sir" ,h..
. replied, = imnc-rntlv' s. Mrs Hill l.ft
the studio for The model. ami sIr L. went on
; preparing Mrs. lloniton's toilet on his pallet
lie squeezed tiny pod of blue in one place.
then mixed II with white. in a variety Of tilt>
: then he smcarcd another place over with
: Nan'i.Ae brown then he dropped curious
, little worm OF yellow o,hrr. out of another
capsule; then the pallct-knii;. dipped into a
p patch Of white, and then the ochre was rrad
/, us,cd into various tnts; then he dag a mass
: of maSi!p out OF bottle, and put tha. on
! the board; then glanced at the lovely lIoni-
ton. and again took up another capsule. from,
n which he pressed coSent blush OF carmine
0 Then the door opened. after short knock
y and in walked Mrs. Hill and the model. Tn.
n der plain English bonnet was the same face
c the passengers on the Devonshire" had
: seen looking over the side of the packc,
r outward bound
n Mr.. Ultramarine was a painter. and f,.l,
i the divine inspiration of his profession real
izcd in that face. Bat when tla: model laI
4 been arraycd hy Mrs. Hill in the antc-roon
f IN the splendid dress Of Mrs IIoniton, and
: stood upon the dais. the effect was bcwillrr-
i ln:. Such, said the artist to himself. wa.
r the face Raphael knew and painted and mcr
Il turned from Divinity TO worship art in III.
r ideal Virgin. |, is not surprising the churcl
g had made so many pro>ely,es"
n Mr.. itramarlne was an artist; he set te
It work maniuly and painted the shawl Their,
:. was an ease and grace in the careless curve
/, OF the living arm holding it, that made Law.
e figure absolutely repulsive. He put lay-fis
: ure in one cornner OF his studio, and cover.
4 ed her all over with old coats, panta!oons, a
c rug and bit Of curtain, besides piIng on hi.
fishing rod, and lying cracked pallet on
: top, by way Of capstone. In few days Mrs
Y Honiton was done. Alas, Mr.. Ultramarine
= had not another lady sitter just then; there
:, were score of gentlemen whose portrait.
It had to be painted. They must be painted
j. he had family to support, and had not much
l. to do it with. lie must pay the model and
J. send her away. SO he told her simply and
t kindly, and then
q The model turned deadly pale, essaved to