Morning journal and courier., 1883-08-15
Artists Models

Artists Models
 The Demand for Them in New York
 Their Wages and Nationality.
 [From the New York Sum-
 ''Yes, there is an increased demand for models, both draped and nude" said well known sculptor, who has charge of the mod el department in the Art Students League This is due to the increased attention paid in this country to figure painting which is itself due to natural evolution hastened, if you please, by European influences Two years ago there were a dozen nude models; this last season we have had thirty for the school, and I have a list of sixty on my books. Painting of the nude has increased among artists about one-third The League will add another life class, as a class for the study of the nude Is called, to the four run ming through the last school year. The sup ply is always equal, find, to the demand.
 ''Draped models are in demand for illustra tors, principally among artists and in the League, for the study of the head. Of these there is an unlimited supply, forty nine head models being listed on my books alone. Of course these figures do not include all the persons posing, as artists frequently make use of their female relatives, make en- agreements with persons knoEn only to them selves"
 "What is most desired in a model?" asked the reporter.
 "In the nude male models, either muscular development or good proportions; in the fe- male nude, fine figure, grace and beautiful composition of liues. The females have not much shapeliness before the age of fifteen or sixteen, are usually in best form about twen- ty, and after twenty-five are likely to lose their fgures,' particularly If they are mar ried and have borne children. To be sure, there are numerous exceptions to this rule From five feet to five feet three inches are generally the best forms-compact and in harmony of proportion There IS not much difference in the upper body of woman five feet high and one five feet eight inches high in the latter case the flesh in the lower body runs, as we say, to bone But the great thing desired, whether in the nude or the draped model, is the ability to pose with in telligence or grace. The lack of this ability is marked, especially in the men, some of whom with the physique of an Antinous have the grace of 8 bear. A school of in struction? Yes, that would undoubtedly accomplish much, but the profession is hard ly up to that yet Abroad, models have the traditions of many years handed down through families to help them, besides con tact with large numbers of fellow models. Why, I'm told that in Paris, in one of it's big, ss y-scraping houses, there are living 256- models all together, the men, women and children of families married and intermar- ried. And for the thousands of artists and art students in Paris there must be one thou sand models You can imagine the eduea- tional effect on one another arising from the association of this large number of models '
 "Can you give an idea of the prices paid p
 Tn the schools 8 draped model receives twenty-five cents an hour. As said before, they are there used for the head principally, and are very numerous. In studios drsped model receives forty or fifty cents an hour or from $2 to$2.50 day. A model em- ployed by an artist who illustrates books &c is likely to be constantly employed, and would, at the rate just mentioned, receive therefore, from $12 to $15 8 week. Cos tunes are usually furnished by the artist. though of course a model improvising out of his or her own wardrobe is not discouraged Of late costume depot has been opened in the association building on Twenty-thir street
 GAS to the nude models, the men at the League are paid forty cents an hour for a seance of three hours and 8 half daily, and are engaged for two weeks; they thus earn about $8 week. The women are paid little more, about $9 week. This, for an engagement with only one class. If as sometimes happens, model is retained for each of the Leagues three or four life class es, the pay is of course three or four times as much. The Academy of Design, which has but two life classes, pays about seventy five cents an hour, believe A club, under the direction of well known artist and pho tographer on Union Square, pays from sev enty-five cents to one dollar an hour, In the studios the lowest price is fifty cents an hour. Young children receive half pay Most of the female nude models, 1 might here say, are from fifteen to eighteen years old.) It should be mentioned that the sea- son for models at the schools and in most studios is from October 1st to June 1st"
 Are higher prices ever paid ?'
 E'Wall kDow One woman who earns $50 week. but then she has an ex- ceptioaally fine figure and is highly educa- ted 3
 ''How do these prices compare with those abroad ?"
 ''In Paris nude model receives $1 for 8 cents a seance is paid, the result being very poor models in every sense."
 'Is not the physical strain put upon 8 model constant and excessive 7"
 ''It may not necessarily be constant The rule is, pose twenty minutes and rest five but it is against the artists interest to make it excessive. At the League, if 8 model has been engaged for several classes, reclining or seated pose in one class is alternated with 8 standing pose in another and again, 8 model engaged for one class for the customa ry two weeks has one pose the first week, another the second. On this point of wear and tear it may be noted that quite a num-
  CT five years, one old man having an expert ence of thirty years
 "Of what nationality are the nude models for the most part ?"
 ''The majority are Americans born of Irish know of no French models here There are 8 few of English and German birth but the first are generally rather angu- | lar and the second too much the reverse. | There are few Italians engaged as head l models, but none as nude models, their gen. | eral dirtiness and lack of grace, for the Ital- | ian immigrant is usually from the country | districts, being objectionable.
 'sYes, we do occasionally come across cases | of interest, where persons formerly moving | in good society have, out of financial neces- sity become models. Do you see this pipe | It belonged to model once had. He was | a captain in the French army and member | of the Legion of Honor, but had been ex- | pelled from France for some political offence, Poor fellow missed him for several weeks | one summer-he was then pretty oId-and | afterward learned that he had died of star vation. Women too? Oh yes the finest | nude model have ever seen was the wife of | man prominent in literary circles at one | time. He was so hard pressed for living ] money, by reason of a confinin0 sickness, | that his wife undertook to solve the difficulty by becoming model. She was known to 8 few artists only"