Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1888-05-26
IN A SCULPTOR'S STUDIO
THE CURIOSITY SHOP THAT ART.
ISTS BUILD AND WORK IN.
Away From the Worid-What He
Does Up Thcre-Clay, Plaster
and Marble-Death Masks

1t was an ideal. The very atmosphere
was different from that outside. span
lsh moss hung in great wa'vy lunches on
the wall, while here and there were
photographs and mcdalions Bits Of
bright ribbons gave coquettish effect,
and contra>ted with the sombre drab Of
the moss, Just as summer does with
winter. The mantel was covered with
pictures, bits Of sculpture in clay and
plaster. and a score of sea shells The
room was full of models, easels, casts
and busts
Where are your han%mcr and chisel.
and marblea' asked a reporter for the
Atlanta C)ns'itn'iop
She sculptor laughed heartily
Now. how many people in Atlanta
do you suppose think that sculp,ors
first and only work is in marble. and
with hammer and ,hisel2 No, the art
IS all in clay every hlt. ruttlng il in
marble is merely mechanical 1t is lust
as II we nodded in clay, and then by
some chemical process could change the
clay into marble There is no art in that
! it is all in the clay After death
mask is perfected mold in plaster
will be taken, and then ii will be put in
marble
.'W hat is the use in changing il into
! plasterf Why not take the mea a,urements
direct from thisi"
''It>s too soft, and YOU cannot allow il
/ to harden, for it will crack and draw.
There is the death mask of Judge och
rane. l am making a marble bust Of
him, and it is being put into marble
now
The mask referred to is in plaster, and
being taken by disect impressions from
the lace of the dead, the mask is a vivid
reproduction the whole effect being
heightened by the pallid color The
features were perfect The eyes were
closed as if in sleep. and the general ex-
preston is one of peace and of rest.
This was taken soon after death, and
the features are perfectly natural.
That is taken, explained the sculp-
tor. Mr.. France, "by impression, the
soft plaster being spread over the feat
urcs, and blown carefully into each
crevice and wrinkle That forms the
mold, and the cast is taken by simply
running in plaster"
''How do you make a medallion7'
"From photographs, and then perfect
them from life
Suppose the model is dead,'
''Then the best of all aids is the death
mask. That's true in making bust as
we'll. But if we haven't that we get as
many photographs as we can--front,
three quarters and profile, if possible
Then we work in clay until ii, as near
perfect as we can make it from what we
have to 90 by, and then get critic SINS
upon the work from those that knew the
dead. After the clay model IS perfe
the art work is complete.
Is that cay in solid lump
"Oh, no We build frame Of straw
usually for a bust, and for larger statue
frame or skeleton of wood or iron.
Gas pipe is splendid ,
'Whefe does the clay come from =
1T is pottcrs clay from Ohio. ! like
the New York potter's clay better,
though, and we shall begin using i,
soon"
Can you use the same clay over and
overl'
"Oh, yes The same cay would last
life time, but, Of course, it is wasting
continually
''Why not use the common Clav9
"It is never free from mica scales and
tools Then it is not 50 pliabe nor sc
! cohesive
, 'sWhere docs the marble come from =
Italy We can use only Carrara mar
2 BILE For two thousand years thos'
J mines have been worked an'
n IN. re has been no substitute By far th'
e closest imitation comes from Westerl
. North Carolina, and | believe that a
, they NINE deeger, the marble will bt
e come as pure as Carrara.