Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-08-15

This talk about the romance connected
with the life of artists models is all non.
sense. sheer nonsense" said an old artist
Yesterday, az he blew little rings Of smoke
from a stubby pipe to the ceiling of his
Sixth avenue studio. II have had lust a.
much experience with msdels Of all kinds
good and bad, pretty and homely-a'
fall to the lot Of most artists. and have
vet 10 find any romance in the ordinary
persons that sit for our studios. OF course
the business followed as a business, IS d
peculiar one but as for any special CLAM
our-bah ~ and the I'D cynic crossed hi,
legs more comfortably and smiled a sar.
donic grin from the depths Of his crimson
plush armchair.
Take for instance, the original from
which this Italian fisherman was
sketched." he continued, leisurely tapping
with a broken mahi-stick an easel bearing
a crude sketch Of an Italian fishing scene.
1.-The grizzled old man there al the helm
keeps a peanut stand al the Chatham street
side Of the Brooklyn bridge entrance. lie
IL a model Italian, has sat for me scores
If times and has been used by nearly halt
the figure painting artists 10 New York.
The reason il plain-hs face represents
the ideal Italian Of the lower class and
with few changes he can serve equally
well a. peasant or fisherman. lie has
made 50 much by posing that he has set
up a. a padrone and runs half 4 dozen
fruit stands with the aid Of As many boy
slaves pay him Sl.2j for sitting OF
one afternoon, though Of late he has been
disposed to ask higher rates. DO you see
ANYTHING romantic in the fact that the face
Of the man from whom you buy your pea
nuts hangs on the walls Of halt score
Of Fifth avenue residents? / certainly do
not "
But with nude modcls-the ladies who
pose before YOU with nothing on-how IS
il with
Those who come here ROBBED only in
spotIess purity interrupted the loung-
ing painter with little laugh. Il
thought YOU would ask me about them,
all lavmcn do They have an idea that the
studios of successful artists are besIcged by
throng- Of beautifully formed ladies', rich,
talented and we'll born, each one ready to
90 down on her snowy knees to the artist
for the privilege Of having her rounded
form transferred 10 canvas. The popular
idea seems 10 bee that Fifth avenue pours
it- birr-t flowers INTO cur rooms, and
that we have only 10 signify our willing
ness io paint her to have the first lady of
the land come here ID. "a model Tn"
air OF mystery that surrounds nude
models serve, 10 keen up this il
lusiou This il OF course pureSt
nou,cn-c The great majority Of women
who d,,robr ioru. are professional mod
els They pose here hour after hour for IL
monetary consideration Tllry may be
vain. and il undouhtcdly givrs them pleas
urn IA know that their forms will he ad-
mirpd bv hundreds. that the delicate
shades and symmetrical curve which they
so admire will be- praised hy men now
unborn but All this does not keep them
from demanding their $40 per hour.
Bless YOU. no. It is a regular trade with
them. like-hke dressmaking. They do
not come here and stand for two or three
hours in uncomfortable positions because
their FIGURES are a succession of beautiful
curves but because they make a cumpar.
atiycIy easy living by po,iny # paws
be,,er than clrrkino hester than baIIrt-
dancinr. and if The model is Discreet. is
unite rs respectable As either. But pro
fcssropal models do not pcrrcive that there
* ANYTHING ont of tho way in disrohinr
for a man or class of men tor picture. II
j. their business. don'r Won see Nature
has endowed tbcm with forms f,r above
m, avcrorc with firm ririd flesh yer,
different from that which cncInsrs the
homes of most women and the models sell