The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-20
MARRYING MODELS.
A Practice Which Is Becoming Quite Common
Among Artists of the Brush


artistic world who still linger in their studios
were given food for gossip, couple of days ago,
by the discovery that Charles X Harris, one of
the most talented and popular of our younger
artists, had married Miss Mary Joyce, young
lady who has for some years posed and smiled
on every exhibition wall as the favorite model
of New York. Mr.. Harris is an American, and
the son of millwright. He was born in Maine
IN 1896, and educated in Minnesota and Cali
fornia. He was baptised plain Charles Harris.
but the existence of another person of the same
name, who persistenty received letters intended
for him, while he got those of his namesake, led
him to incorporate the x. with his baptsmal
title. In 1879 Mr.. Harris, who had early developed
a marked talent for art, went to Europe, where he
studied i'll the studio of the famous French
painter Cabanel He wandered and painted
extensively in Tunis travelled on foot through
Brigand-haunted Sicily, lived in Italy and
dreamed some months away on the Island of
Capri, which is now quite colonized with artists
who have married their native models and set
tied down literally under their own vines and
fg-trees. After visiting most of the artistic
shrines of Europe and painting for some time in
England Mr.. Harris returned to America in
1882. He was one of the artists employed on
the decoration of the Vanderbilt palaces and his
hand has been active in the establishment of
other great houses. He exhibited with success
In the exhibitions of 1888, and last year began to
paint cabinet pictures of quaint conceit and fin
ish. dis first subjects were drawn from the
picturesque life Of the Italian quarter, where his
fluent knowledge of the language made him
quite at home. Examples of this phase of his
art are to be found in the gallery of Mr.. Thomas
Is. Clark and in the collection of Mr.. B. Altman,
of Mr.. Wheeler, of Meyers & Co. Wearying
of low life in art EMr. Harris, few
months ago. turned his attention to
a loftier and more pleasant line of
objects. IL this departure female model of
elegance and grace enough to do Justice to the
fashionable attire of the day became necessary.
He sought and found her in the person of Miss
Joyce. Miss Joyce is New Yorker some
twenty years of age, of fine and commanding
physique, and brunette. Mr.. Harris also po-
sesses the swarthy and picturesque beauty of an
Arab shiek. Miss Joyce has posed for a great
variety of characters in the pictures of painters
of such note as VIM. M. Chase, j. Carroll Beck
with, Edwin F. B!ashield, RoberU Blum and
Louis Moeller, and is universal favorte in the
studios. Her popularity kept her in constant de-
mand, and she earned a handsome income in her
profession. The wedding was not publicly made
known until the following notice appeared: Har-
ris-Joyce.-A the residence of Rev. j. j.
Hughes, One hundred and thirty eighth street
and Alexander avenue. June 20, Mr. Charles
Harris to Miss Mary E. Joyce, both of this
city. The best man" on this occasion was
Mr.. Edwin Borke, also an artist, and the
son or the crockery millionaire of Brooklyn.
Before her marriage Miss Joyce spoke of her in
tention with much feeling. ''If more painters
married the ladies VINO pose for them, She said,
instead of going into the world to find wives
who can neither sympathize with nor be of use
to them, it would be better for the painters"
and, adding with laugh, land the models, too"
MIR. Harris. who overheard the observation,
blushed and hid his face behind his palette.
Almost stimuli taneously with the revelation of
Mr.. Harris's plunge into the mysterious sea of
Elatrmony came the announcement that Fred
w. Freer is to be married to Miss Maggie
Keenan,. MIR. Freer is Chicago man, whose art
education derived from the great Munich
academies. He is painter of much technical
ability and fine artistic feeling, and his works
enjoy wide and profitable popularity. Of late
years he has confined himself almost entirely
to the painting of beautiful women, with
which labor he possesses a refined artistic
sympathy. His pictures have at every exhibition
charmed the public, and also the faces used in
them caused frequent comment that they all
seemed taken from one model This model is
Miss keenan,. Miss keenan, is native of this
city, and one of family of models. All are
well known and much sought after, but she is of
all the most popular. The family reside on
Tenth street, in the quaint little rear building
which is the meeting place of the famous Tile
Club, and where w. r. Smedley has his studio.
Miss keenan,, in addition to furnishing inspira-
ton for pictures is herself painter of decided
merit, and In every way a talented and charm
ing woman. The artists are awaiting the COM
pletion of her little romance with an
interest accentuated by their regard for
its prospective heroine AS if the marital fever
were epidemic in the studios the report is now
current that third disciple of art is on the eve
of a union with a lady whose counterfeit pre-
sentiment he has frequently given to the public
in his work. This gentleman is widely known
as an illustrator, and was at one time at the
head of one of the illustrated papers. These
marriages will, if they are all realized, give
New York @ boast of artists wives
who have graduated from the employ
ment of the studio to its control. Mr. Will II.
Low the painter OF Skipper Ireson's Ride" and
a decorator and illustrator of national reputa-
ton, some years ago made the lady who posed
for him his wife. Mrs Low is of French birth,
and is very pretty, piquant and attractive
woman. Her delightful personality has in
spired her husband to his best work in art.
She became the artistic good ange! of Mr.. Low
in Paris some five years ago, and he married her
there and brought her home to America with
him. Like her American sisters under consider
alton. Mrs Low was not only model by pro
fesson, but an artist at heart, and her transition
to another sphere of life was scarcely to be
wondered at.
The two first noted of these marriages will
leave vacancies at the top of the ladder for our
female models next season AS these places are
difficult to fill, the artists have no occasion to
thank their brethren for monopolizing the services
of such valuable ncumbents. Nevertheless,
with true Bohemian generosity and effusiveness,
they stand ready to congratulate the happy men
and clink a can to their future and continuous
happiness and prosperity.