Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-04-04
A MODELS EXPERIENCE.
A WOMAN IN BOSTON WHO HAS POSED FOR FAMOUS ARTISTS.

she Was Manonna, Venus, Helen. 1Iagda.
 len and Other Celebrities-Many wo- | mems Heads Painted on Her Lovely
 Shoulders-Amcricans Are Swindled. ! A homely visaged, well formed Italian 1 woman, about 50 years of age, occupies l a suit of rooms on Greene street. and
 gets living by doing fancy needle work
 and taking lodgers. Her name is Mar l gharlta Campelli. Her husband, form
 eriy tenor singer, but latterly an organ l gr1nder, dled two years ago, leaving her
 his name and just enough money to buy
 black veil. As for his burial, that was l paid by the city. But Margharita was l not to be cast down. She had SC en bet
 ter days. She would see them again. l The result is that she isnow comfortably ] sltuateo, and IS growing more prosperous every year.
 l Years ago, before time cross plowed
 her face with wrinkles, Margharita was
 the pride of Paris, and earned luxuri-
 ous living by posing as a model for sculptors and painters. She was able
 to earn anywhere from 100 to 500 francs
 week lon her shape" alone, and on her
 rounded shoulders and above her wei nodded limbs rest the faces of some of the most celebrated belles and heiresses. and, for that matter, queens and prin- cesses of Europe. In short, her body was the form in which the celebrated Parisian artists breathed the breath of
 life and beauty, and having done this, they surmounted the trunk with the
 heads of their patrons, all of whom were pleased to be associated with her sym metry, which none of them possessed THREE DOZEN MADONNAS, When reporter called she was en- gagged in the agreeable occupation of washing the dinner dishes, but, although attired in simple "Mother Hubbard' satine wrapper, the human form di-
 vine" which she possessed was so very apparent that it was quite evident the artlsts had made no mistake in their se- lection.
 II don't look much like a Madonna, do l?' was her smiling greeting as she stuck out a wet hand for the reporter to grasp. "I think 1 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 Ma donna posings paid me better; but they were too stiff. I don't like standing all the forenoon on a marble slab holding dummy baby to my breast. It makes my arms ache. 1 was never lucky enough to be mother, and this fond ling of infants comes hard. Still, did pretty we'll. have been the model for at least three dozen Madonnas in my day. Six of them are now in Rome Nearly twenty are still in France, and the rest have gone to England and America. Last year 1 saw myself in three different attitudes in as many paintings at a loan exhibit in New York. l was told the cost of those three pictures was $2O,000. I wish I had the money, but am no artist. am only a model. Still, I like to know that the rich people admire me, even if they do not know who I am."
 "Now tell me about the Venus," said the reporter.
 "My! but that was gay. I liked to be Venus. acted natural, you see. I just sat down and threw out my arms and gave myself up to love. One artist paid me 500 francs for six days sitting for Venus. One hundred dollars, Just think of it! It was tho easiest money I ever earned. But he got 4O,OOO francs for the job, so he need not complain"
 ''Have you been a model for anything but Madonnas and Venuses?" was asked.
 WE'LL LOADED SHOULDERS.
 "Yes, indeed. Let me tell you. Il went to Paris in 1873 and danced in at least twenty artists, and had my fig ure painted in all kinds of pastures and attitudes. was Proserpine in two pict- ures, Helen of Troy in five, Enone in two, Hecuba in three, Rachel in one, Minerva i'll four, Andromeda in one, and so on through all the list of celebrated historical, biblical and mythologic char acters. I worked as a model and got good pay until 1884, when was mar ried, and my husband objected to my getting living that way"
 What was your husbands occu pation?'
 ''He was musician"
 "How long ago did he diey'
 "Last year. He heard there was big field for musicians in America, and came over, hoping to make.a fortune. His failure broke his heart. Since his death l have tried to get work as model here, but your artists do not seem to care for ! me- 1 am afraid I am getting old and l 
 'How many faces are now on your | shoulders, do you suppose?' was asked.
 "Over 300. It is somewhere near 400, l if I remember rightly. There are three | of the Rothschild women, Mrs. Mackay. Judic and the ex-Empress Victoria of Germany among them. Bernhardt me to act as a model for her pic lures, but the artist convinced her that she was too skinny. Sarah Bernhardt is ] beautiful woman for all that, and just IS liberal as sunlight"
 "Did you ever act as a model for an American woman?"
 "Yes, five or six in all. Mir. Bennett brought woman to Palero's studio while was a model. I think her name was Bell, and she was sister or relative of MT. Bennett. I also sat as model for relative of Minister Bancroft when he was in Germany"
 Anybody else?'
 "I remember a few more, but the names are gone. The Americans who 90 to Paris to get their portraits made do lot patronize the best artists as rule, hough they pay big prices. It is shame 'ul how you people are deceived by >hoan arfictc Tbov hovo |