Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-05-31
MODELS.
THEY ARB SCARCE AT THE EAST
AND WHY IF IS.
Who the Models Are. and Some
Singular Facts About
Them,
Philadelphia Press ]

1NeTe are very lew professional hnoueiS
for artists in the city OF Philadelphia-not
more than dozen women, and perhaps
not that number of men. In other places
it is different-at least in European cities.
In London and in Paris there are several
hundreds Of persons who earn their daily
bread by posing in studios and before life
schools. In Italy, the cradle of art, there
are perhaps thousands who have never
dreamed of anything else but models.
Their fathers and mothers apprenticed
them, SO to speak, to the business, and
models they will remain as long as their
limbs are strong enough to support them
in position. Nor must it be supposed that
only the young and comely afford study to
art. The human form in all its phases, its
contortions and deformities, the roundness
of it's youth, and the wrinkles of its age,
must be thoroughly studied and learned by
heart by every sculptor and painter who
aspires to fame for that which God ere
ated in His own image is of all conceptions
the'most beautiful.
Entering one of the studios on Chestnut
street yesterday, a Press reporter found the
owner, well-known artist, engaged in
sponging the face of an athletic looking
man OF about fifty years, who looked very
much blown and decidedly bruised about
the countenance. On the floor lay double
pair of boxing gloves.
|. 'Come in, old man !'' cried the artist,
cheerily. Make yourself at home. I've
only been doing little sparring with my
model !''
eyes, dang it all, he's only been doin' a
I Low ha 81
somewhat disconsolately. elf he ever
knows about handlin' them gloves he'll
have a monument all to himself in the
park.
Il guess I'd better explain" said the
artist, laughing heartily at the others
remark. My good friend here used to
be pretty good boxer in his time, and is
still, and so am l, only he was not aware
of that fact. He was pottering round the
place here, and he discovered the gloves,
and after telling me what big things he
could do in the way of boxing he suggested
that he should give me lesson. / told
him didn't want to, but he insisted 30
we set to- He tried for about five minutes
to get in his left on my face, but couldn't
succeed so then began to fire, and
Yes, interrupted the model, '' he did
fire; he whanged this way, and he whanged
t other way, and he knocked me down and
picked me up, and hoped about, and at
last sent me flying over that ere easel, and
heavy frame fell clean across my face,
and has probably spoilt my beauty for a
week. He's deep un !''
A little more sponging, dollar on &C.
count, and bottle Of beer soothed the
mortified feelings of the sparring model,
and after an offer to put on the gloves
with the reporter (which was declined), he
departed.
"That's one of the best models I know
Of, " said the artist, as he filled his pipe.
cit makes ma jestic Roman citizsn, ard
can remain longer in one position than any
man I've seen, or woman, either, for that
much. ,"
"Are there many female models in
Philadelphia: :" asked the reporter.
"No; very few. Art at best is in its
infancy. The community does not sup
port us, and so few painters can afford the
luxury OF models. We pose for each other.
At the Art School there are six or eight
models of both sexes who are in regular
attendance entirely for nude studies. A
committee of five from among the students
is chosen on each class-day in alphabetical
rotation. The committee are the only per.
sons who have anything to do with the
models. They arrange the positions and
give any verbal instructions that may be
necessary A model Is not expected to re.
main in fixed position for more than half
an hour. Every successive thirty minutes
he or she is permitted the luxury of
stretching or reposing for five minutes, but
the repose must be taken in full view of
the class. l assure you some Of the finest
ideas have been taken while the models
have been engaged in relaxing the muscles. "
"What sort of persons are models 2" que
ried the reporter.
"Well, that is difficult to say. Here
they are so different to anywhere else.
Strange to relate, | have not yet come
across one model who had any acquaintance
with another. A certain mystery, perhaps
an unpleasant past, enshrouds them all
The men appear to me to belong to the
class of ne er. do. wells, who find that they
can obtain their daily crust, beer and to-
bacco in that manner, and, probably, in no
other. The women hardly know what
to say about the women. Some, like the
men, do it for their daily bread, while
others, l verify believe, are prompted by
their vanity. suppose you known that
few Of them wear masks when in posi-
ton, and on entering and leaving the
class or studio, SO disguise their faces
with wraps and wells, that their iden-
tity can not be recognized, and remain
unknown to their employers This
idea, which doubtless is prompted by GER
tain feelings of hodesty, has gwen rise to
many romantic stories, especially about
female models / have been told, and l
believe there is good foundation for the
story, that a woman OF most perfect form
aad skin, DO poses for numb Of artists
here, is a young la3y OF excellent. family
connections Her people are poor and have
to struggle to keep up appearances, and
she has chosen to be a model SO as to OBJ
tain the dress aud pin-money she requires.
She enters studio enveloped in a long
cloak, with her features hidden by thick
veil. She retires behind the screen or in
dressing. room and unrobes, and finally
emerges, attifed like unto Eve, but with
her face closely masked.
"What do models earn p
Seventy.five cents an hour, or 81 80
sitting, as agreed. Some models will not
pose entirely nude, only 10 costume or par
tial dreSS. lDey TECSlNe tHe sdiie feinu-
neration. AZ for myself, and you will find
most artists will tell you the same, model
to me is nothing more than a study, and,
Honi soft qui NAL pense. AS to where
models come from l can't say. One is
found by this artist, or that artist, and the
tidings are sent around, but questions are
not asked it is contrary to our etiquette.
81 can tell you little story about
model that knew, who is now a lady ar.
tist Of repute in France, and the wife of
successful sculptor. Sho was the daughter
of a New York broker, who at one time
possessed very large means, but whose for
tune was completely wrecked in financial
panic. The father was so prostrated by
the crash that he could not work, and the
support of family Of seven devolved
upon the eldest daughter, girl Of IS, and
a son a couple Of years older. Their COM
bined efforts-he as clerk in store, she by
teaching-could only secure few dollars
week, scarcely sufficient to feed the many
mouths, and the poor girl, who soon dis
covered that teaching was not her forte,
began to despair. She heard one day of
the prices paid to artists models, and in
these times, seven or eight years ago, as
much as two or three dollars an hour was
the customary remuneration. She con-
suited with picture dealer, and through
him was introduced to the studios, and
soon had as much work as she could pos
ILL ,napare Her narenta and i1rot or