, 1876-01-16

where to Gst instruction. in
Chicago.
Meissonieps Battle Piieture---Artists
and the Literary Club.
The New York Wafer Color Society,",
Chicago Artists.

! MODELLING AN AMATEUR PURSUIT,
Tho modem art Of sculpture consists aln1oE
entirely in modelling in claJ. Bronco statuar.
is simple reproduction in uctnl Of the artist
clay model. while the cutting Of marble statun,
is ninc-tcnths Of it done By worlmen who cel,
from tho model, lea;lng oay the hnishi III
touches. and not always those. for tho sculp!or'
| hand.
As an amateur pursuit modelling has .anzd1
obtained foathord in Chicago. Tho ladies an,
gentlemen who have leisure enough to pursu
/ it aro probzbly for ths mos. part unawsso til.
this elegant accomplishment il easily With,
their reach. Although the general Impression
is that thore is something mysterious AMI
difficult about modelling rs compares
With drawing, the fact, is that it is na oesy t,
model little Us to drav little, and, compare;
with painting tho technical management Of mod
cling materials is go much simpler than that o
color that the former pursuit is more liEoly to b.
satisfactory t1nn tho latter. For tho samo rea
son, much lcss elaborate courBe of instruction
is necessary to g1se tho young modeler q star
courae applies onls to the study or the tcchnica
| management OF the plastic matcr75.l aud has Ut
| application to the preliminary tEsin.ng in draw
ing which is equally requisite fcf bot.1, and ab
sotutely necessary loe any cooaloeeao!e atta1n-
| ment in either. 80
| All anateuris1n las to consampla.s two dig
| tlnct classes Of pe1sona,-
| TIE SERIOUS AMATEURS AND TIL: II DILETTAyTE, "
| OF OCCASIONAL AMATEURS.
The former arc those who work from deep
seated lore Of theiS pursuit, often With such OF
! fectiycucss as to betomo formidable rivals to
! their professional brethren, only distinguished
| from them by not wurEiug h.Dliua!ly Tor
uono5,-an exemption which Enny en- artist
| envlea.
The other cnss includes q largs number of
people who take up f,.o-hrt prac;ice as taoy Go II
| thousand other thinga, simply fo7 rniuse.neut,
| never expecting to reach any worry valuable ra-
| suits besond tue nero recreation, 1t is though:
| necessary by most persons OF authority in Ilne-
amateurs, and to insist that the only Why to outer
| upon tho pTactico Of any branch OF fine
ars is to follow formal and systematic
| course Of study and technical training. Bnt
in . community where eyory element OF interest
in fine a!t needs to be curcfnlly cherished, it is
worth considering whether erery individual who
has any inclination to draw, or paint, or model,
ought not to be encouraged to make beginning
in any way he chooses. :,
TO nETCIN To a1oDEI1:'a;
person who in any Way forms @ desire to learn
to model, and applies to sculptor for direction,
as likely as not rcceiTea only tho advice to Get
soc clay and initiate natural objects. using such
methods and tools for shaping his clay as seem
SO FREQ from hici,s of technique as modelling,
hence the scs1lptors arc distrustful Of ect
Methods Nevertheless, for person absolutely
unacq1aintca with tho subject some information
is necessary ut the beginning and Bomo instruc-
slon useful p; and Inter the aid Of an intelligent
teacher or guide, to direct attention to what is
true and what faise what TO be sought and what
avoided, could never be hurtful. Where to get
clay, hoF to reduce1t to tho proper state to work
upon. how to keep it in proper condition OF
T1nn fJnSv r., cat ovIC e2r]
what toGis are On the whole found most usoful by
modesors, what subjects beginner would best
start upon, n,-questlons which sculptor has for
gotten to be questions at al, may evidently be
communicated By teaeher to pupil.
Co3rPETEST 1SsTRCcIIoN IN MODELLING
is now provided III Chicago not only for profess
sionsl students Of sculpture. but for both the
classes OF amateurs mentioned above. Profess
sto1al students and serious amateurs would
naturally follow tho regular courses Of tho Acad-
envy OF Design. Modaiera who are aiming ou7
4: amusement, or who for any reason canuo:
take long and Systematic course, will seek aid
from private instructors. Tho President OF tho
Ea'aGo Academy Of vDHsg as is well knoUn is
has q studio, with work actively going
on, in tho Academy building. Tie pupils
in drawing and painting arc ntlowcl access to his
studio and are made acquainted with the genar-
mitted to begin actual modelling until they have
accomplished somewhat stringent courses of
drawing. And, III fact at tho present time, d.
u 3;1sh there arc several students aiming eren-
tuaIly at sculpture, there IS not one who has
fulfilled the required course OF drawing,
and consequently no actual claRs in modelling
in tho Academy. This system is prompted BY
the abaou:e necessity that sculptor should have
d thorough knowledge of drawing. While many
sculpsors have begun to model without such . |
preparatory course Of drawing there probably |
nerer was good sculptor who did not sooner OF |
later, find it necessary to accomplish an equiya-
lent for it. When the students have reached |
the proper point, they will be put under regu-
lar course Of instruction in modelling, under Mr. !
9olks direction.
But ihcre arc |
LESS SERIOUS 4R1-srupExrs
acre and there,-ladieB Of taste and elegant |
:eisuro, gentlemen who have not time or luciina-
lion to follow exactne comses OF traipinc.-to !
Hhom it will be useful to bo directed to tho pri-
vato toachers OF modelling. It would be good |
Thing in some cases if such PERSONS could form
themselves into little classes or circles, aud prac-
tice modelling at their own Lomes,-as might
very easi!y be done.
MIR. 4. D. cLEvE1AsD,
who is now established in Mr.. Spreads studio,
in SchloesRor's Block, is deToting himself ospe-
ciallY to instruction in modelling. His technical
education ls derived from COURSE in the South
Keusington Att-Schoos in LONDON, and the few
examples OF his modelling to DO ecen bore aro
marked with elegant taste aud artistic feeling,
A little ideal head Of Q young girl, in bas-reei.
at Brieu gallery. la the only specimen on public
exhibition, very delicate III tho modeur aud
pretty in expression. tie hair especially skillful.
! pair of panels, the subjects "hishly conyen-
tionatizea owls, made at the suggestion Of Alr,
Clarke, tho architect and designer of furniture
Of artistic Eattcrns., are Mr. CIcseland's prca-
nnt studio work, and ho he il giving reruIar i'll 1
ztr1ction in modcling- Mr.. Richards, tho scuIp-
Tor, was ready to take pupils in model
ns last winter, but ia Fortunately
200 busy this season to seek them, though 10
probably Toiid consent to instruct pupils il thew
seriously desired it, aud tho samo ls probably
rue Of 1T. Nell. Mrs. Dickinson las pupils il
modelling wax flowers, nnd has herself modelled
ome subjects more generally recognized as of |
rtis!ic valuo,-heads aud figures in bas-roioi in |
rax. c;a=s in modelling ia also Just forming in
Holmes Il Lakes art school uuder tho charce Of
1r. Seibert, which will be divided iuto two Sec
ions. If necessary, and will admit amateur stu
euts Of any grade.
iElSS SC9IER'S GREAT BATTLE PICTURE
Lucy q. Hooper, the Paris correspondent of
tpplaons' journal, writes Of tie late picture OF
Ieissonicr: ii