St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-30

ton Of washing the dinner dishes, bu
although attired in simple Mother
Hubbard Saline wrapper. the ''huma;I
form divine" which she possessed was
so very apparent that it was quite evil
dent the artists had made no mistake in
their selection.
Il don't look much like a Madonna
do l?'' was her smiling greeting, as she
uck out wet hand for the reporter to
grasp. Il think | am more nearly akin
to Venus rising from the sea just now,
and have sat for both many day.
(which do you like the better, Venus
or the Madonna" asked the reporter.
''Oh, Venus. to be sure, though my
Madonna pOsings paid me better; but
they were too stiff. | don't like stand
ing all the forenoon OH a marble slab,
holding dummy baby to my breast.
1t makes my arms ache. ] was never
lucky enough to be a mother, and this
fondlind of infants comes hard. Still,
! did pretty Vol. | have been the
model for at Ii three dozen Madon-
mas Ill my day. .IX of them are in
Rome. Nearly twenty are S IL in
France, and the rest have gone l., ing
land and America. Last year | saw
myself in three different attitudes in as
many paintings at loan exhibit in
New York. i was told the cost of those
three pictures was $4,000. | wish 1
had the money, but IN no artist.
am only a model. til like to know
that the rich people ,,>.nire me, even if
they do not know who am"
Now tell me about the Venus" said
the reporter.
My! but that was gay. | liked to be
I t1h
sat down and threw out my arms and
gave myself up TO love. One artist paid
me OF for six days sitting for Venus.
500! just think of it. 1t was the cas-
lest money | ever earned. But he got
40,00Of for the job, so he need not com
plain
Have YOU been i ell thing
but MandonnaS ana s?' was
asked.
Yes, indeed. Let me ten Vol.
went to Paris in 1878 and danced in q
theater Day times sat as model for
at least twenty artists. and mad my fig
ure painted in all kind of postures and
attitudes. 1t was Prosperpine in two
pictures, Felen of Troy in five, Enone
in two, Hecuba in three Rachael in one,
Minerva in four. AndrOmeda in one and
so on through all the list Of celebrated
historical, biblical and Hydrologic char
acterS. | worked as model and got
good pay until 1884, when | was mar
RED, and my husband objected to my
getting living that way"
What was your husband S occupa-
tom"
lie was musician"
"ilow long ago did he die?''
Last year. He heard there was a
big held for musicians in America. and
came over, hoping to make fortune.
His failure broke his heart. Since his
death | have tried to get work as a
model here, but your artists do not seem
to care for me. am afraid | am getting
old and embonpoint."
How many faces are now on your
shoulders, do you SUPPOSE" was asked.
"Over 800. 1t is something near 400.
if remember rightly. There are three
of the ROthschildS women, Mrs Mackay,
JuuIc and the cX-Empress Victoria of
Germany among them. Bernhartlt
wanted me to act as Il model for her
pictures, but the artist convinced her
that she was 20 skinny. Sarah Bern
hardt is beautiful woman for all that,
and just as liberal as sunlight"
Did you ever act as model for an
American wOman?"
yes. five or six in all. Mr.. Bennett
brought woman to Palero's studio
while | was a model. think her name
was Bell, and she was sister or rela-
tive of Mr.. Bennett. | also sat as a
model for relative of Minister Ban
croft when he was in Germany"
Anybody elSe?"
81 remember few more, but the
names are gone. The Americans who
&c to Paris TO get their portraits made
do not patronze the best artists as
rule, though they pay big prices. 1t is
shameful how your people are deceived
by cheap artists. They have plen.y of
money. and should get the best. The
tact is, they are imposed upon by cheap
work. She chatted pleasantly about
French art for few minutes longer
and then resumed her household duties.