Morning journal and courier., 1884-10-11


It hardly needs to be explained that the
German money system is based upon deci-
NAL standard about one-half that of Austria,
just as that of Austria is based on standard
about one-haf that of the United States.
Thus the mark is approximately equivalent
to our quarter" and the pfennig, which is
coined, is one-fourth as valuable as our
cent.
"For an instance of the occasional tribula-
tions of artist life" continued the speaker,
'you may take the case Of the
young man whom you met up
at the New Pinakothek this afternoon He
is a very good copyist. One day last year
Chicago lady was passing through the gal
lery in company with friends. He heard the
party complimenting his work, saying that it
was as good as the original, ETC., and finally
he took occasion to let them know that he
was American and understood all their fat
tering remarks. The Chicago lady became
painting in the general style of one
which she brought him a few days la
ter-the portrait of young woman. The
artist undertook the work at great pains, and
finally sent it on to the lady. The latter
kept it a number of months and finally re-
turned it to the author at his expense, with
contemplate note saying that the original
design had not been adhered to strictly. She
pretended that she had wanted an exact
copy of the painting submitted as guide!
The truth was that she had thought to be
able to treble her money on the painting in
Chicago and when she found that there was
little market there for the productions of an
unknown artist, however meritorious,
she pretended that the painter had
not done what she desired of him.
1t would have been violation of the law for
the artist to have copied exactly. Little, /
suppose, the lady knows or cares how her
treacherous course illustrates the plans and
embarrasses the study of the humble student
way over here, who has had the result of
months of arduous skilled labor thus tossed
back at him"
"Are there not exceptions made in favor
of art students in a good many respects, SO
that you may enjoy special favors?" eyes,
indeed, every institution here recognizes us
in liberal way. We have reduced fares on
the railway, cheaper tickets at the theatres,
and immunity from many penalties to which
other people are liable. We cannot be ar
rested for any except the grossest crimes.
Each student has a certificate to the effect
that he attends the academy, and the moment
the policeman sees that, he becomes as polite
and suave as you please, merely requesting
us to call at the station at such time on
the following day. Here is my certificate.
I always carry it with me-" with a twinkle
of his liquid brown eyes.)
I found that had fallen not only among
artists, but also among cultured, intelligent
young men-congenial companions. Pres
emily I observed interrogatively, "You spoke
of an American artist club!' eyes, sir.
We have had a club for over five years. The
present enrolled membership includes 600
persons. There are among this number quite
few members of only naturalized citizen
ship, who speak English but tolerably. It is
vacation at present and most of the boys are
off sketching Schleissheim, a place about
eight miles distant, is great resort for the
artists, and I suppose there are dozen of
our boys over there sketching now. When
imagine, and the club rooms are well patron
lied. Would you like to look inside of them'
They are very modest, indeed"
Of course [ was delighted at the chance to
inspect the room and promptly availed my
self of it. There were but three small apart
ments, one used as reading-room, and the
other two supplied with stoves, chairs, tables
and half dozen paintings by the best known
members of the club. There were two tall
panel paintings representing New York in
1875 and 1876 respectively. The former con-
sisted mainly of trees and stumps; the latter
showed the good old flag floating over Broad
way. ''For these rooms, gas and fires when
ever needed, we pay but ten marks month!
That is good sample of Munich prices. OF
course the patronage which our location here
secures to the restaurant is something of a
consideration. We do have most jolly times
here when we all get together, and the sur
face cf this clean white table is then fairly
black with caricatures." In the reading
room I found the daily Graphic and daily
New York Sun on file, Scribner's, most of
the Harper's periodicals, Puck and the lead
ing art journals besides several German dali
ly newspapers. The students all have to
learn German incidentally in their work.
These newspapers are kindly donated by the
various publishers, so that the Art club, with
all its privileges, costs its members almost
nothing per head!
On the following morning one of these
same easily-won friends escorted me about a
little, thus giving me a chance to see more of
student life. Passing along in the rear of an
immense block of studios, with enormous
windows for receiving the light, we came to
the costly new Academy building, construct
ed out of French indemnity money. This
proved to be colossal structure in the Ital-
ian renaissance style, solid, massive, but most
ornanented. 1t is the intention
to move into this new building on or before
the first of November, when the next term
begins. But doubt if this will be possible,
as things are done SO slowly in Europe, and
there is great deal of plastering and finish
ing yet to be done. We passed through the
vast building, examining room after room.
At the further end we found half dozen
girls standing around as if waiting for some
thing to happen. "They are models" said
my companion sententiously.
Munich must be sort Of Paradise for
models" 'It is, indeed. There are many
hundreds of them, 1 suppose Every day
there are not less than half dozen come
around to my studio and knock to offer their
services. There are young boys and girls,
men and women of all stages in life, and
yrey-headed old patriarchs who pose for
living They have discovered that they have
physical advantages, and they have become
professional models. They hang around the
art rooms and studios just as professional
urymen do around the justice courts in
America. Posing is really o business. We
IAN tell as soon as we get hold of an expert
nentalist, and often have great difficulty in
eaching the model to stand, sit, gesture or
lie PROSTATE in what we consider graceful,
natural attitude"
Glow about the wages paid?' EfThe Acad-
my pays forty pfennig an hour Many mod
Is expect sixty for private posings for stu
lents while there. are others so anxious to
,arn money that they will pose for almost
lothing OF course there are models for the
yarious race types. You ought to be here IN
erm time and see the professionals swarm
lbout the academy. 1t is one of the sights
If Munich. Last year an American negro
lrifted into the city. He was pounced upon
It once by the students and suddenly found
himself the most popular man in town, al
hough he had come here IN great doubt as to
low to gain O livelihood. He posed for a
,ood many months and became quite an
dept at the art; but finally he slid out of
own as quietly as he had entered, much to
,ur common SORROW"
Don't you often see people passing by
yhom you long to paint, but who would not |
,ose under any circumstances" eyes, that |
s our sad lot very often. Sometimes reg
liar Venus will go by, and we will rush to
he window in perfect agony because she is
lot and would not be model. Perhaps |
Ter form is just what we have been sigh
ng for and searching after for weary
months To at least see the ideal going
", and to know that she is absolutely in
ccessible, is indeed heart-breaking. You
now we artists look at people and things |
trough such different glasses from those
which the rest of mankind employ"
sfIsn't this model business a source of
nischief?'' 'I should not be honest unless |
answered that it is. The consequences |
re most lamentable, infinitely worse than |
hose of theatrical life, which SO many peo-
lie condemn the while they rave over art. |
these hundreds of Munich girls begin as |
lead models in the majority of cases, and |
hey are simply gaining a livelihood then, |
ust as the American girl does by measuring |
ape over counter. They are persuaded, in |
he interest of art, to sit as quarter nudes,
nd become hardened to the exposure. Then
hey consent to be halves and finally to be
ull 'achts' as the Germans say. Then their
loom is sealed and they shrink at nothing