The Portland daily press., 1882-06-16
Romance in Artists Studios.
The Living Models from Which Great
Pictures are Painted-What Models are
paid
my. Tribune.1


A slight figure fitted in at the door OF the
Academy of Design the other day and disap-
peared into an inner room. She had rosy
face and bright eyes.
"That is one Of our models" said the Profess
sor, rolling his eyes at the door. "a great
change has taken place in public opinion con-
corning the use of living models" continued
the Professor, willing to talk. "Ten years ago
there was great outcry against it, People said
it was scandalous. Posing being new thing,
it was hard to get model of either.sex. Now
you can get hundreds and engagements are
made weeks in advance.
''What pay do they get?'
ssWhen the lfe-class was first established
we had to pay $150 an hour; new the regular
price is fifty cents an hour. Models pose from
twelve to twenty hours week. They are
changed every two weeks so as to give the
students change of subject. Men are better
models than women, assthey are less easily
fatigued."
How long does the model stand without
resting"
San inexperienced one only twenty minutes
at first. Stand in one position five minutes
without moving a muscle, and you will get
some idea how tiresome it is"
'OO Gn6Y SHOW uuCu 6mDdrrdSSm6ntl
$50 much that the muscles are as rigid as
iron, and they become drenched with prespira-
ton. But after posing two or three times the
embarrassment wears off 1t becomes merely
routine business"
do many make it profession?"
ssThere are several men who do nothing else.
They pose here at the Academy. at the Art
Students League, and in private studios.
Most of our female models are young women
who work in workshops and factories They
receive small wages, and think it great
fortune if they can earn $40 week extra by
posin,. They invariably give fictitious
Names"
"Some curious bits of romance have co re
under my observation" the Professor remark
ed, after pause. "a pretty little brunette
came in one day and asked for an engagement.
She was in straitened circumstances, but did
not disclose her history. She was SO sweet tenn
pered that she became great favorite. I have
mover seen any one SO ambitious to earn money
She would pose eight hours a day. 1t made
her grow pale with fatigue, but she.wouldn't
giveup. Well, it turned out that she was a
married woman. She belonged to good fam
lily in New Jersey, and was nero girl when
she married japanese, the son of an ex-min-
lister from Japan. The husband spent all his
| money, was thriftless, and earned nothing.
She had to keep him. She frequently posed
for artists in their studios, A richly-dressed
woman came in one morning and inquired for
her. The model, she said, was her neice, and
| she intended to make her the heiress of her
property if she could be found. After two
days search the model was traced to private
studio, where she was posing for an artist and
| his wife. This was the last heard Of the pet
| model.
st is always the whip of necessity that drives
| people into posing One day woman of re-
| fnement made on application. She was hand
| somely dressed, wearing a sealskin sack and
| silk dress. Her face was pale and careworn
and she said that she had not had enough to
| eat. Her story was that she had married well
| her husband having an income of $4,000 per
| year. When he died the fortune they possessed
| took wings. She said she had tried copying
and other methods of earning living, but she
had not met with success. Her figure had al
ways been admired for its grace of outline.
Why should she not pose?"
"Do you have any boys for models?"
"One of the best subjects we have ever had
was young boy. He had form like Apollo.
His father was down Town banker, who was
ruined by the panic of 1873. This model, whom
met in the street yesterday, has now a respon-
sible position as bank clerk. One of our stu
dents posed last winter. He was from Maine,
and had to depend entirely on his earnings.
This young man is one of the most promising
students in the academy. All kinds Of people
drift in-people you would never dream of.
One of our handsomest models is an itinerant
Methodist preacher. He has the form of a
gladiator"