The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-12-03
Yenng. Womrn as Models Tor Artists
Art Ia Phiiadelphia.N "a I


u seems strange, but Dereriheiess
il Is a true fact that there are many
Young ladies who earn livelihood by
acting or posing as live lay figures for
the art academies. At 6rSt glance il
seems dreadfullv shocking and vulgar
that ladies shouid appear before party
| of young men perfectly nude. 1t is
queer mode of making money, but were
il not for these ladies, there w"uld NOT
he any of the fine figures which are
christened Dianas ard Venuses. but are
only snch 50 far "a the shape and come
illness Of form nf the subject goes.
In conversation with a prominent
/ member of the Pennsylvania Academy
nf fine Art. a reporter of the Sunday
| Press learned most strange things con-
rerning the wnrld of art He said that
il was extremely difficult TO obtain
young ladies who would adopt this
bn~iness. and only upon the most sacred
promises that their individual will not
he revealed do they consent to take the
position.
Indeed" said the gentleman, "this
one lady who appeared before our class
at the oil academy for four wears bef0re
came to know who she was.
These nude live figures only appear
before the Life Class of the Academy
for sketehing. Formerly thew came be-
fore the gentlemen alone, but in the new
building both ladies and gentlemen will
stndy together. No one except the
members of the class are admitted to
the room where they are studying from
a figure, and only the best artists are ta-
ken 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 a
given signal she appears hefore the as
sembled guests upon pla form masked
and shrouded in drapery. She is then
placed in the proper position required
for the study, and soon the deft handlers
Of the brush proceed to depict her form.
She is never allowed to he spoken to by
any Of the members of the class, and
should any of the bold ones break this
rule they are Immediately and forever
expelled. -
Indeed the whole proceeding 40 soon
assumes an air of business that the az
fists, according to their own statements,
forget that the lady who is exposing her
charms to their gaze is live. OF course,
there is a shock experienced by the new
conner in the class the first time he il
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 general
s ly led to it by being reduced in circum.
! stances, and lured by the tempting of.
fers of the large pay which is given for
e their work. Oftentimes ladies of wealth
: who are proud of their charms, and
! whose vanity exceeds their prudence
e act in this capacity for some skillful ar.
: tist. In the celebrated picture of the
o mime Muses." which created such {
: furor a few years since, the figures ther,
n represented were of living objects from
, different parts of the globe. one being
n reported to be the wife of wealthy
o resident of New York. and another of ::
:. large merchant of Chicago.
h It is related of the Partisan artist
J, that they seem totally unconscious o
It the presence Of the model until she i
Il ready TO leave when they strain ever,
nerve to ascertain, if possible, who sh'
e is. But some of the holder of thes,
o girls calmly sit down before the clas
g and proceed to lace mp their shoes will
l. as much nonchalance as If she was a
!; home. Very fortunately, however, W
J. have not arrived at that stage of shame
r lessness in Philadelphia.