The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1879-01-10
THE NAKED TRUTH.
STUDYING ART FROM LIVING MODELS IN
WASHINGTON.
Washington Post.

WASHINGTON.
Washington Post
1t is not generally known that there ha
oeen formed in this city a class Of young
artists who are studying from living mod
els. The attempt made last winter to car
ry into execution an idea of this kind wa.
only partially successful, but through the
energetic efforts of e. Clarence Messer, the
President of the club, the plan has received
a promising Inauguration. The class was
formed a9fsw weeks ago, and rooms were
rented in the Young Mems Christian Asso.
citation building. These were fitted up in
a suitable manner and at some expense
Gas lights were arranged around the room
SO as to throw the best light upon the
easels of the artist students, and at the same
time to show off the model to the best ad
vantage. These necessary improvements
were completed last week, and the class at
once took possession of its rooms. They
had worked only two nights when the Y.
| M. G. A. seemed to have become enlighten-
ed as to what the artists were doing, and,
IN HOLY HORROR
At having naked figures exposed in their
building even for the purposes of art, inn
mediately served notice upon the club, who
were forthwith compelled to vacate. They
have now secured rooms in the st. Cloud
building, at the corner of Ninth and F
streets, where they hope to study and paint
unmolested. A reporter of the Post inter-
viewed yesterday George W. Forsberg, a
well-knoWn artist and member of the
club, from whom some interesting facts
were gained concerning the purpose of the
organization and about the living models.
Chow many members has the club ?'
"We are now about twenty" was the
reply. "They are all young men, who
have painted from life in London, Paris and
Berlin while abroad and who wish to con-
tinue their studies at home. You know
that last Writer we formed such club
here, but it was not very we'll known, and
we had but few MEMBERS
Chow do you obtain your models p'
"We have committee which is appoint
ed to select them. OF course anybody and
everybody will not do, for we must have
only those whose forms are perfect in every
particular. Applicants for the position are
examined by the committee, and if they
suit they are at once engaged"
But do you not have some difficulty in
getting applicants ?''
"We have no more trouble here in Wash
ington than we would have in New York or
Philadelphia. In those cities there are
men and women who are trained for this
work and are models by profession, but
here nothing of the kind exists"
"Are not your models nece ssarlly select
ed from the dem i-monde ?"
A MASKED MODEL.
Not at all; for, while we have many
applications from that class, we refuse all
On the contrary, our model at
present is a woman of respectability, who
'..>- ...ken up this because she has NO other
work. Sometimes no one but the commit
Tee knows who the model is. Last winter
The female model we had sitting for us
wore mask, and would not know her on
The street were to see her now"
How much do you pay these models ?"
"We pay the men from So to $3.50 per
light, but the women are paid as high as
30 for each sitting. The models are posed |
behind screen to represent the subject we |
want to sketch. This screen is then re- |
moved and we go to work. The models re-
main in position for about half an hour and |
hen rest for Is or 20 minutes
Have you any applications from ladies
o join your class ?"
Yes, certainly; but at present we have
'oted to exclude them. I know of the
laughter of q Cabinet officer, and another
,f an honored scientific professor, recently
deceased, who are studying privately from
living models"
"Do you think this familiarity with
otal absence of costume is injurious to the
morals of the young men?'
Not at all; for the artists come to the
lass to sketch or paint, and leave. They
10 not speak to the models, and none of
hem would ever sacrifice his social posi-
ion-for all of them are known in society
ircles-by committing any misdemeanor.
n Germany, where l studied, we had
who, before we commenced to
york, would give us a lesson on the physi-
logy of the body, explaining to the class
he names and uses of the muscles, etc.
We have no professor here, but are going
0 secure the services of one as soon as pos
ible.'