The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1875-11-18
LADY MODELS
Behind the Scenes in tie Fine Art Academy

Behind the Scenes in tie Fine Art Academy
1t seems strange, but nevertheless it is a
true fact, that there are many young ladies
who earn their livelihood by acting or pos
ing as live lay figures for the art acade-
mics At first glance it seems dreadiully
| shocking or vulgar that ladies should APP
pear before party Of young men perfectly
nude. 1t is queer mode OF making mon
ey, but were it not for these ladies, there
| would not be any of the figures which are
christened Dianas and Nenuses, but are on
| iy such so far as the shape and comeliness
of form of the subject goes.
In conversation with prominent mem
Der of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine
Arts, a reporter Of the Sunday Press learned
most strange things concerning the world
| OF art. He said that ii was extremely Diff
icult to obtain young ladies who would
| adopt this business, and only upon the
most sacred promises that their individual
ity would not be revealed, DO they consent
to take the position.
Indeed" said the gentlemen, "this rule
is so well enforced that there was one lady
who appeared before our class at the old
Academy for four wears, before l came to
know who she was.'
These nude live figures only appear be-
fore the Life Class of the Academy for
sketching. Formerly they came before the
gentlemen alone, but in the new building
both ladies and gentlemen will study to-
gether. No one except the members Of the
class are ever admitted to the room
where they are studying from figure,
| and only the best artists are taken
into membership in this mysterious body.
The method of study pursued is something
like the following:
The lady proceeds TO room adjoining
the class room, especially adapted for her
At given signal she appears before the
assembled guests upon the platform, mask
ed and shrouded in drapery. She is then
placed in the proper position required for
| the study, and soon the delft handlers of the
brush proceed to depict her form. She is
| never allowed to be spoken TO by any OF the
members of the class, and should any of the
| bold ones break this rule, they are imme-
diately and forever expelled.
Indeed, the whole proceeding so soon a.
sumes an air Of business that the artists,
according TO their own statements, forget
that the lady who is exPosing her CHAINS to
their gaze il alive. OF course, there is a
shock experienced by the new conner in the
class the first time he is present at the
| meeting, but it soon wears off.
The ladies who follow this strange mode
Of procuring living are in every instance
respectable. They are generally led to it
by being reduced in circumstances, and
lured by the tempting offers of the large
pay, which is given for their work. Often
times, ladies of wealth who are proud of
their charms, and whose vanity exceeds
their prudence, act in this capacity for
some skillful artist. In the celebrated pic
ture OF the "Nine Muses." which created
such furore few years since, the figures
represented were OF living subjects from
different of the globe, one being reported to
be the wife OF wealthy resident of Vow
York, and another of large merchant of
Chicago.
1t is related Of the Partisan artists that
they seem totally unconscious of the pres
epce OF the model until she is ready 10
leave, when they strain every nerve to -
certain, if possible, who she is. But some
of the boldsr of these girls calmly sit down
before the class and proceed to lace IN
their shoes, with as much nonchalance as
if she were at home. Very fortunately,
however, We have not arrived at that stage
OF shamelessness in Phiiadelphia.-P.ila.
| deiphia Press