The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-09
ACQUISITION OF NUDE MODELS.
HOW 10 TBET AFFECT THE STUDY OF
ART WIEN Used By MIXED CLASSESP
Tho Art Students League to Decide To.
night whether Mr.. IT. Gnudens's Class
Shall he Divided on tho Limo of Sex

| Tho Art Students League to Decide To-
night whether Mr.. ~. Gnudens's Glass
Shall he Divided on tho Limo of Sex.
The question Of tho propriety OF letting
mixed clnsses OF art students work from nude
models will not down in the Art Students
League In East Twenty-third street nude
model was placed before a mixed class for the
| first time in the history OF the league about
eight weeks ago by Augustus st, Gaudens. the
sculptor. The class consisted OF three young
men and four young women. All we're pleased
| with the innovation except one OF the young
| women who left the class. The Board OF Con-
troll requested Mr.. st. Gaudens to change his
method, and he divided the class. This di-
vision was not satisfactory to the class. For
various technical reasons all the members
were anxious to get together again, and they
| found considerable support among the other
students Of the league. Consequently Mt the
| leagues regular monthly meeting last Tues-
day evening. mixed classes with nude models
in general and Mr.. St Gaudenss mixed class
with Its nude model in particular, were ex-
haustiye'y discussed
Kenyon Cox spoke ut length In favor Of Mr.
ST. Gaudenss method. Several women OF the
| League who had studied on the Continent. con-
tended that mixed classes with nude models
had always failed abroad, md had no proper
place in this country. On the motion OF en-
|
nude models in mixed classes was adopted by
a vote Of so to II. The sentiment OF the meet
| INK was. however, in favor OF letting Mr. St.
| Gaudens keep nude model before his mixed
| class for the remaining two or three weeks Of
the term. Miss S. NJ Ketcham, Vice. President
| of the league, did not approve this sentiment.
| Miss Ketcham was elected to office to repre-
sent the women OF the league By virtue OF
| her office she Is member OF the Board Of Con-
| troll Ip,po Iiafa1 of tha el,,
| to Horace Bradley, director OF the Art Stu
dents League. an order reminding him OF the
action OF the Board Of Control in regard to
| Mr. St. Gaudenss class and stating that de-
spite the expressed sentiment OF the league Mr..
| st. Gaudens would not BIO allowed to reintro-
| duoe o nude model before his class even for
the remainder of the term. In case Mr.. st.
Gaudens persisted. Miss Ketcham threatened.
| 1t is said. to discontinue his class.
| Yesterday morning Miss Ketcham met Miss
A. L. Kellogg and Miss Ellen X. Lent members
OF the Board who sympathize with Miss
| Ketcham's views, at Miss Kellogg's house at A
| West Ninth street. The purpose Of the consul
| tation was draw UP statement to be laid be-
| fore the Board OF Control at its meeting this
| evening. For some reason this statement was
! only discussed. and was not written out. al
| though some paper Of the kind will be sub
mitted to the Board tonight.
i ne interest OF inc members OF the league IN
! Miss ketchams campaign against Mr.. st. Gau-
| deus's innovation Is intense. The prevalent
| opinion seemed to be that Mr.. St Gaudens
| would not be allowed to reunte his class. Sew
| eral representative members acknowledged.
however. that the reunion was possible and
this possibility Is at present the disquieting
element in the leagues affairs.
Mr.. st. Gaudens refused yesterday to talk
about the matter.
y. Carroll Beckwith. an Instructor in the
league. said: Il am very much opposed to
mixed classes under any circumstances. II
had my way would have the young men and
young women Of every class divided by a brick
wall. have all my classes divided. wrote to
the Board of Control about ten days ago that
the existence OF mixed class with nude
model would be n great disadvantage to the |
league. and urged the Board to consider long
before allowing anything Of the kind. My let
ter was subsequently signed by MIR. William |
NJ. Chase and was approved by Mr.. c.
Y. Turner 1 am very deeply interested
In the league. and have it's welfare |
at heart. can RScribe the sentiment OF men, |
bers In favor OF nude mode In mixed class |
only to n sort of high exalted enthusiasm some |
idea that art Is above all common humanity. |
But artists are human. and mon and women in |
don't know OF any such classes in London or |
Paris now. | studied In Paris five years, and |
school In Paris is tho only one OF the KIND
have heard q as having had nude models be-
:, Mr.; q. 7. Turner. who has been a mem Der of
the League 2 ever since It was fq4ndeG and has
Mr.. French. the President Of the league, told
record against the practice. Tho only q dues H
was intended. Mr.. st. Gaudens students en-
tered his class with the understanding that
ton and sEeS SI pad ther money Tor S Hey
could co, OF course get more Instruction when they
GausG IS SFsbbs Busy and AGAIN aos F So
SS WIZ l. S' i9ssrus!s tSsn Two i've S dS
70 DE, returning of the money 70 the students
4 their course is interfered. with. The class
They eommonced With The head. Then they fsT;
modelled moo the he, shoulders the arms the torso.
lion, Or PiE Of paper, Or, perhaes. o only the
oitRe class nteTeres with ali this. 40 o''''''
Thai 40 ono not , believe In miXsd cHsses' h3Weyysr
Phia, and other cities. but have always failed
H s 'r nHd ne Paris in 974 and
since with the result Ths men In uiens
class used totell vile stories to drive the women
away NE presence Of women. you see. cannot
samns sfound Els cha 4G Sh sssRR e sa
es a FE B9s MS MT his
There Is something In the argument that tho
women derive Inspiration from the stronger art
iStt. ana, therefore. mako more rapid progress.
The results have been thoroughly unsatis-
fnctory, and know OF no city where mixed
class with nude models Is now taught. l tried
in vain NJ the league meeting tho other night
to find good reason In favor OF tho practice.
Every professor OF the league. with one or Two
executions; wrote to the Board Of Control
- Mr. William NJ Chase. who approved Mr..
Beckwiths letter TO the Board Of Control. said:
" ! do not believe IN mixed classes under any
circumstances The little attentions OF tho
young men to the young women, though moro
acts OF politeness. interfere with tho work and
have no place among students under instruc-
ton. ] had a mixed class one year. but shall
never have one again; The character of the
iadtes and gentiemen. and ihers is not ntb1 S
slightest bIemlSh on the morality Of the lnsti-
tuition; l. Is very large school self,;upEor-
tords more privileges to women than have
been afforded to thom ever before In the his.
tory OF art and II Is very unfort innate there
fore that this affair has been made public.