The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-01-13
ARTISTS, MODELS.
Persons Who Pose on the Model
Stand for a Livelihood.

Almost any evening there may be seen on
the street corner in front of the post office
bright eyed little fellow, noble specimen OF
a boy, typical Of health, and with face full
of expression he is q reAshaN, wide awake
and alert A model. an artists madei, Tor
more Than oace he has pnsed on tie model
stand While the sketchnan delneated his
much admired countenance The writer was
told b, one of the leading artists of the city
that the little newsboy had posed for him
several times, and said he, pointing to a
fine portrait on the wall, THAT is tie result Of
one of the little fellows visits to my studio. ;"
This little newsbny, however, is not the
only model in the city There are number
of others among whom are one or two pro-
fessionals. The leading artists of the city
not only employ models for themselves but
for their pupils. Several years ago when
MIR. John Mcdonald left the Art Students
League of New York and became teacher
of the Art League in this city, he made an
effort to train number of persons here Tor
professional models. He employed them for
himself and for his pupils, and it may be
said that he introduced, or rather, perhaps,
did more to educate professional models in
this city than any other one person. Since
that time the custom of employing models
here has been growing.
Some time ago an unsuccessful effort was
made among the iartists to draw up code
which should regulate the price to be paid
models for posing and also to contain list
of all available models in the city that their
services might be had without trouble. Chill
dren make good character studies and
model of strong features is much desired.
81 am member of a sketching club" said
the artist. ''We have an instructor, and two
evenings of the week we meet in my studio,
and make studies from the different models
which we employ.
''The model appears upon the model stand,
which is, as you see, elevated about Is inches
above the floor, and takes, at the direction Of
the instructor, the desired pose. If we wish
to work from the same pose more than one
evening, the places where the models feet
rest on the stand are marked kid with chalk,
and if one hand rests on support OF any
kind the place is also marked so that .on the
next evening the pose taken may be identi-
cal with that of the night before. We prefer
men for models because, as general thing,
on account of their greater muscular deyel-
opment they furnish better studies, we pay
the men who pose for us somewhat more
than we do women"
speaking with the writer concerning the
models of that city, said: I'm the city of
Paris there are hundreds Of people, men,
women and children, who earn their liyeli-
hood by posing as models Tor artists. The
n. n. Iii dnr tata Of
age from posing, but even as early in
childhood as that they begin to train in order
that they may follow the life of professional
models Physically professional models
keep themselves in the best condition. They
indulge in boxing and fencing, and resort to
the various exercises prescribed at the gym
nasium. Many of the models will pose an
hour without rest and one professional of
Paris boasts that he can pose longer than
any artist can paint. This man has splen-
did physique, and after years OF training his
muscles have become like iron, and the ar
lists who employ him weary of painting be-
fore he tires of posing on the model stand
before them. The length Of time woman
or man model can pose depends, of course,
upon the condition OF their physique, the
pose taken and the amount OF training which
they have undergone.
Many of the people who follow this life in
Paris are Italians. The art schools OF that
city pay about four francs per morning for
the service of q model. OF course there are
fancy models of especially fine form who get
more, and in some of the private studios
they are held at higher price.
If an artist, in working on some particular
painting, he often prefers the service of
model that, more than any other. is espec-
tally adapted to his purpose. In such case
the model required is retained by the artist,
it may be for week or even for six weeks.
| know of one man who had his whole time
engaged for four months in advance, for
which time he had booked himself to pose
for a score of different artists. As general
thing | think women models get more re-
enumeration than men. and children less
than either. Undraped models, whether
men or women, pose for about the same
price as half sdraped or head models.
1t is fact that the true model takes
great pride in the work of his employer, and
eventually he comes to regard the painting
as almost his own. 1t isn't an uncommon
occurrence for a model to become an artist
and work his way up to a position OF high
standing in that profession. professor In
one of the leading art schools of Paris be-
gan life as a model.
In Boston there are probably not more
than dozen or twenty professional models
who earn their livelihood by posing for art
lists, but in New York there is greater
number.
In this county models are paid from so
cents to $1.25 for each engagement.
All models are not, as many regard them,
slow people," nor is their calling an ignoble
one. The artist respects his model and the
model often takes profound interest in the
paintings of his employer; sympathetic
relation exists between the two that is sell
dom other than pure and exalted one.