The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-29
MIR. Matt Morgan,s Classic Pictures.

MIR. Matt nIorgan's Classic Pictures.
Mr.. Matt Morgan, known to fame as
Frank Leslie artist, has lately been adj |
n inistering the affairs of the Theatre
Comique iu New York, and in his capacity
of manager has been producing certain
stage representations which he called
''living classic pictures To these the
Young Mems Christian Association OBJ.
jectcd-called them obscene-and had
Mr.. Morgan arrested. The total lack Of
taste for the classical on the part Of the
Christian Association did not procure the
immediate suppression of the ''classic
PICTURES" however, although Mr.. Morgan
consented to add little to the drapery
of the figures. But a reporter who has
seen the piece in which the figure appears
indicates in his story that something still
remains to delight the eyes Of lovers of
the classical. The first part of the per-
Torrance is the usual variety ~clio." and
then the curtain rises upon "Cleopatra
before Cassar,'' the first Of the beautiful
''classic pictures" Their says:
ITO anyone familiar with the original
painting, it is not necessary to say that
an exact counterpart was given in flesh
and blood; to others it may be described
as TALL symmetrical woman standing
before the representative Caesar, clad in
so fine and superior an article of flesh
colored tights as to defy the naked eye.
1t is presumable that somewhere about
this young womap's chest or neck the
tights that covered her body ceased. but
at what particular point silk became flesh
was not evident. Casting the eye from
head to foot. drapery of a gauzy texture
was here and there encountered, but
flesh.colored silk and illusion lace min.
gled in the same mysterious way.
Roughly estimating it, about seven-tenths
Of Cleopatra divine figure was exposed
to public scrutiny. Surrounding the
whole broad frame was placed, while a
suitable background, painted by Matt
Morgan, gave the whole a good deal the
appearance Of mere paint aud canvass
As Mr.. Morgan observed, it would be
absurd to put Cleopatra in crinoline.
The classic taste of the New York public
demands to see Cleopatra before Caesar.
Cleopatra appeared before Cesar nearly
naked, therefore the public must see her
in the same state. The next thing on
the programme was something else:
<'To the strains of Strauss the second
picture was unveiled, entitled, The
Shower Of Geld On an Oriental divan
reclined Circassian blonde, whose sole
raiment was blue silk parasol held at a
comfortable distance above her head by
all African slave. Around about the d.
van in graceful pastures clustered other
females, each of whom exhibited degree
Of pink skin tights commensurate: with
the size Of her person.
After this came the "Slave Market
and "Diana and her Nymphs Surprised
and Of course, as female slaves are not ex-
posed for sale in pin.backs, and Diana
was not in the habit Of going down to her
bath in the latest Long Branch style Of
bathing suit, the drapery was not heavy
in either of these "picturcs.' - Mr.. Nor
gan has not yet announced "Phyrne be-
fore the Judges but as he is bravely
fighting the battle Of art against the prH.
rient minds of the Young Mems Chris
tian Association, We look for the appear
ance of this favorite classic scene on the
boards of the Theatre Comique soon.
The managers case will be heard in the
courts before long. too; and if the judge
fails to eyince proper appreciation Of
the classical, and Mr.. Morgan is COM
PEELED to abandon his ':living pictures,'
he should 60 traightway to work and
have every nude statue in and around
New York clothed in the latest fashions.
rr1,.. -,