The sun., 1890-05-12
Mh. ST. GAUDENs DIDN'T START 1T:
But IL was tho Suggestion to Use a Female
Model that Made All tho Trouble.

But II was the Suggestion to Use a Female
| Model that Made All tho Trouble.
The members of Augustus st. Gaudens's
clay modelling class made a statement in
THE SUN yesterday morning OF their attitude
| toward the question OF nude models in mixed
classes in the Art Students League. In this
statement they said that nude models had
| been first introduced before the class not by
| MrSt. Gaudens. but under the instructorship OF
+. Edwin Ewell. his predecessor. Mr.. Elwell
| looked over the students statement yesterday
| afternoon and said:
"les. did have nude models before the
class; but they were male models. and twelve
or thirteen year old boys at that. When tho
suggestion to introduce female model was
made set my foot down and said no. Since
then my opinions have changed. l do not now
believe in nude models for mixed classes under
any circumstances. Men are men and women
are women. whether they are artists or not.
The presence Of n nude model in a mixed
class invariably disturbs the young men and.
to less extent. the young women.
Tho great struggle for artists Is to keop
their art pure and high above the gross pas
sions of everyday life. and cannot imagine q
heavier stumbling block in the way OF the be-
ginner than the influence of working from the
nude In the presence OF the other sex.
to get from work ing with tho men, l can only
say that II an instructor teaches tho great
learn them from him as quickly as the men.
They get more benefit from this kind of in
struction. too. than they possibly could from
that the mixed Glasses have failed In Paris. iris.
where public opinion and society are 30 much
better prepared for them than here, is conclu-
siye proof that they could never succeed in
said ho had no fault to ind With the S statemen:
OF the clay modelling class in favor Of Mr.. 81.
work with nude models In mixed classes are
described in the students statement OF ysser:
These words Mr., French thought, referred
only to the methods employed 70 make Mr.. 81.
nude model in a mixed class. For Mir. st.
Gaudens personally every one In the League
had th9 highest regard. and the whole board OF
Control was very anxious to have him continue
instructing the Leagues students throughout
next season. Mr.. French sent to The sun last
evening this statement:
49, To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sri | do not
desire to pTolong the discussion relative TO
nude models in mixed liio classes: but IT is
class has worked together from practically
nude models tor, nearly two Years, and com
His connection with this matter was limited
solely TO the suggestion that a female model
repace tho male mOuols from which they had
=" beg that you will find space for, this letter.
as i beecTmes mere and more bssM evident
false position in the eyes Of many people.
Yours most truly T. D. FRENCH.
President Art Students League
NEW YORK. May ~"
To THE EDITOR OF TIE Sun Sir: see that |
the Arr Students League has got into. hot
water through Introducing tho nude model in
mixed class Last year at the Gotham Art
Students, nm told ,9ppIication was made by
class, ono OF the strongest classes in tho school,
to admit male students to the class, and those
who made the reILest were some OF tho most
serious workers in the school. On two other
occasions ladies' whose work showed that they
were really in earnest made application for Gd-
III ssion 70 tho mems life class
. While MIR. Aug. ST. Gandens and Mr.. Kenyon ,
Cox are manly enough to assert their views |
and take the sde II the earnest student. With
out consulting Mrs. GTundy the Board OF tho |
League; AS matter OF business policy, OF
has TO say no. b. H. \,