Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-06-25
POSING FOR THE NUDE.
Albert Rhodes in June Galaxy.l


About twenty students we're collected
at the atelier, awaiting the arrival of the
person who was to pose. A glowing
stove made the place excessively warm,
with view to the comfort of the ex-
pected model. AS it was customary to
admit only painters, x advised me
not to intimate that / did not belong to
the priesthood of art, as painters, es-
pecially models, disliked the presence OF
Philistines-laymen being thus des
mated in the language of the atelier.
Presently the model arrived-a bright
handsome brunette of nineteen or twenty.
There was 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 a platform about
two feet high, where she fell under
lofty broad side light. Two of
the more advanced painters, who
acted as a committee of arrangements,
placed her in position. This be-
ing the first pose, there was discussion
about the posture to be assumed. Several
times the two placed her and then re
tired few yards to observe the effect,
remarking as they did so, Don't hold
the arm so stiff" incline the head a
triAe;" and what not, accompanied with
painters pantomime, such as slowly
saving the head, shutting out portions
with the intercepted hand, and massing
the effects with halfclosed eyes. The
fourth trial proved to be success, at
which phrase of general satisfaction
was expressed. The two enjoining her
not to bulge, with the others got behind
their easels and went to work, some TAX
ing off their coats. One modelled in
clay; with this exception all held cray
ons. All the faces turned earnestly to-
ward the canvas, the clay, and the
model, and not sign of dawdling or
friyoiity was to be seen. To them the
woman was a statue. Nothing was rec
ognized here but art; it took the form of
worsbip. and he who looked with other
ewes than those of an artist was ac-
counted sacrilegious. Thus the public
opinion of the atelier made them all ar
fists. and If the art feeling was not pos
sessed, it was assumed.
After time the silence was broken
by her requesting some one to heat up
the stove as she was cold, which brought
out one or two CALCULATIONS, and MUIR
mnr that we were,already in the interior
of Africa. 10 which she retorted that they
would not think so if they were in her
place, Anotner ,Gu .bo IN. ~ which
rupted oy ner aSAinH Un = NJ, rot
one oil tne elosrs re 49, fow Mn.
mademolselIe, Again tLo t;ma
utes she sala sne was sIiG Sn s
must be up; IL is' my cnilu, 1880 GU
the same eloer repOse I.1o yJa. aSont Te her
lett the stahd, urewa MANI ,;.L aG ssnso
anu He 1Eoe ST.. i@' ~ ' ohl;ged to lookout for
OF rellei, one Was 0posHu 9Ia s;n ~ ofnos;nS as
hersel. ~ resalu " I'LL, w 80, 90 ohsorbed ss
the palhters "ere uou"i'' ~ ~'N''0
to forget IT, '.,.,L.L.uu;.b uu;.b
The repose oil tne mouel olousH. un WIZ
It contrast 70 .Ie Previous uS GaSa;ng ]
l neIe wac o;rnra,tes Two or three
of pipes and cigarettes. Two .ho III .nnee uuoJ'
compliments were auuressea " .t;na ~ col.
ell Tor ner exceiieht posiIs, n", ,bSoo
.ahS .IS olJpp nongel or a duchess
told her sne was an ansga ~ 80, . of ra;l'
10 winch she repIeu IN tnas sp.lIS . y, ',,,ar-
lery WITH WITH whlch theSe tnlllss VIZ ee rnonoh
cd. Inns was an ll.ustrS'iou u unIi,, Eli
OF WORK anu edu"iiJ
iona OF play.
J. approached tne mooel as sue %. W
the stove ana entered INTO conEersAtu'OI uoI
'Vlth nsF' Wnen . learned tns' she naI
another ecu pa1pIon, tnat Oh arslncISl ii-
fCwel|maki1S FSs'urlng was : nalurAily 1
more proHtaple, sNe rece'Veu i've iIaucs
for the two rours Sno nan ~ 'nIee
hours she remaiseu IA sne A'slsr uur
ing which she poseS Apou' W. noeIs'
The remainder being ta1cu up ~ ret's. L
The time OF repoose she cusu nei
entr Gctes. Believing me 10 De pSiT