The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-06-26
POSING FOR THE NUDE.

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only painters, X-advised me not to
intimate that | did not belong to the
priesthood Of art, as painters, especially
models, disliked the presence of Philis-
tines-la ymen being thus designated in
the language Of the atelier.
Presently the model arrived-a bright
handsome brunette Of nineteen or twenty.
There was a demonstration of welcome
from the painters, the door was
locked, and she proceeded in business
like fashion to prepare for work. When
ready she mounted platform about two
feet high, where she fell under a lofty
broad side-light Two of the more
advanced painters, who acted as a COM
mittee Of arrangements, placed her in a
posture to be assumed. Several times
the two placed her and then retired
few yards TO observe the efert, remark
ing as they did so, Don't hold the arm
so stiff" 'Incline the head trihe," and
what not, accompanied with painters
pantOmine, such as slowly saving the
head, shutting out portions with the in
tercepted hand, and massing the effects
with half-closed-eyes. The fourth trial
proved to be a success, at which phrase
Of general satisfaction was expressed.
The two, enjoying her not to bulge,
with the others, got behind their easels
and went to work, some taking of their
coats. One modelled in clay; with this
exception all held crayons. All the
faces turned earnestly toward the canvas,
the clay, and the model, and not a sign
of dawdling or frivoiity was to be seen.
To them the woman was a statute. Moth
ing was recognized here but art it took
the form of worship, and he who looked
with other eyes than those of an artist
was accounted sacrilegious. Thus the
public opinion of the atelier made
them all artists, and if the art feeling
was not possessed, it was assumed.
After time the silence was broken by
requesting some one to heat up the stove
as she was cold, which brought one or
two calculations, and a murmer that we
were already in the interior of Africa,
to which she retorted that they would
not think so if they in her place. Another
long silence was intercepted by her asking
the time, at which one of the elders re-
marked, ''Not yet, mademoiselle.
Again in few minutes she said she was
sure the time must be up. cit is, my
child, answered the same elder ''repose
yourself She left the stand, drew a
mantle about her, and took seat by the
stove with sense of relief. She was
obliged to look out for herself in regard
to the time of posing, as the painters
were usually so absorbed as to forget it.
The repose of the model brought with
it a contrast to the previous silence.
There was a general buzz, and lighting of
pipes and cigarettes. Two or three COM
pliments were addressed to the model
for her excellent posing; native gallantry
cropped out, and two or three told her
she was an angel or duchess, to which
she replied in that spirit of raillery with
which these things were uttered This
was an illustration of French character
fond Of work and equally fond Of play.
approached the model as she sat by
the stove and entered into conversation
with her, when | learned that she had
another occupation, that of artificial
flower making, by which she earned three
francs a day. Posturing was naturally
more profitable; she received five francs
for the two hours and a half to three
hours she remained in the atelier, during
which she posed about two hours, the
remainder being taken up in rests. The
times of repose she called her entr'GcteS.
Believing me to be painter, she called
my attention, in simple, natural way,
to the roundness Of her arm, the texture
and color of the skin, and the curved
lines of her shoulder. She went on to
say in manner purely professional:
my arms and shoulders are my best
points, and | occasionally pose for them;
| like it much better than posing for the
whole figure"
At length the painter in authority told
her it was time to presume the pose, and be-
fore stepIi ing on the platform she looked at
his watch. She was posing for Cynthia,
who cast the shepherd EndymiOn into a
deep sleep in order to kiss him. One
of the painters having acquainted her
with the NEUROLOGICAL story of the artful
stealing of the OSCILLATION, she observed
that she paid very little attention to such
nonsense-besides, one could not believe
more than half these painters said about
such things Then she fell cleverly
into the posture, guided by few d.
rections. As they proposed to work on
the face, she was instructed to wear a
pleased expression. Cynthia was taken
at the moment she is advancing toward
the sleeping Endymion to snatch the
kiss, coy ana yet impelled by sweet
temptation.
"Try, my child, said the man in au-
thority, "to imagine that the young man
you love lying asleep before you-with
his pockets full of bank notes."
This had the desired effect the model
could not help laughing. and the traces
of it remained some time ON her face
All fell to work again and silence was
supreme, as each tried to transfer Gym
thia's happy face to canvas. Once In
while, when through lassitude or forget
fulness she modified the posture, papa
the elder painter-said to her sharply,
'Mademoiselle, pay attention." which
showed that, however much license was
allowed during the rests, rigid discipline
was exacted in time of work
When she got through, she made her
toilet in the same business-like way that
she had unmade it. She asked for a |
lookingglass to complete it, but the ar
tiele could not at once be be found.
''What savages y twenty men and not
one mirror. But | am not surprised at
it /; you are such monsters you are afraid |
to look at yourselves" As Frenchmen
like to be called monsters by the women,
this was taken as general compliment
At length a cracked mirror-pOetically
styled starred-w produced, before
which she smoothed out her plumage
like & bird in the sunshine. Her at
tire was simple: sombre colored little
hat, black alpaca robe, dark brown man
tie, closely fitting gloves and boots and
parasol in hand comprised her costume.
Equipped, she had the demeanor of
roSiere Of Nanterre, or convent girl. |
The FIVE franc piece was handed to her
aDvoIoDad in panar a uasrb IF ,lalooac,v