Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-29
MODELS FOR ARTISTS.

A slight figure fitted in at the door OF
the Academy of Design the other day and
disappeared into an inner room. She had
rosy face and bright eyes.
THAT is one of our models, said the
Professor, rolling his eyes at the door.
"a great change has taken place in public
opinion concerning the use of living
models" continued the Professor, willing
to talk. Ten years ago there was an out
cry against it. People said it was scandal
Gus. Posing being a 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 getl
"When the life. class was first estab.
lished we had to pay 81 so an hour now
the regular price is so 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, as they are less easily fatigued."
"How long does the model stand with
out restipg!"
can inexperienced one only twenty
minutes at first. Stand in one position
five minutes without moving muscle, and
you will get some idea how tiresome it is. :"
"Do they show much embarrassment ?"
So much that the muscles are as rigid
as iron, and they become drenched with
perspiration. But after posing two or three
times the embarrassment wears off. 1t be.
comes merely routine business.
Do many make it profession :"
"There 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 a great fortune if they can earn
$40 a week extra by posing They inva-
ria6ly give fictitious names.
Some curious bits of romance have
come under my observation, the PROBES.
sor remarked after pause. ga pretty
little brunette came in one day and asked for
an engagement. She was in straitened cir
cumstances, but did not disclose her his
tory. She was so sweet. tempered that she
became great favorite. have never seen
any one so ambitious to earn money. She
would pose eight hours day. It made her
grow pale with fatigue, but she wouldn't
give up. Well, it turned out that she was
a married woman. She belonged to a
good family in New Jersey, and was a
mere girl when she married Japanese,
the son OF an ex-Minister from Japan. The
husband spent all his money, was thrift
less, 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 niece, aud
she intended to make her the heiress to her
property if she could be found. After a
two days search the model was traced to a
private studio, where she was posing for an
artist and his wife. This was the last
heard of the pet model"
ut is always the whip of necessity that
drives people into posing. One day a
woman Of refinement made an application.
sealskin sacque and silk dress. Her face
was pale and care-wofn, and she said she
had not had enough to eat. Her story was
that she had married well, her husband
having an income of So, 900 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
always been admired for its grace of out.
line. Why should she not pose?"
"Do you have any boys for models ?"
Gone of the best subjects we have ever
had was a young boy. He had form like
Apollo. His father was a downtown
banker, who was ruined by the panic of
1873. This model, whom l met in the
street yesterday, has now responsible pc.
sition 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 hand
soonest models is an itinerant Methodist
preacher. He has the form of gladia.
tor. - New York Tribune.