The morning call., 1893-08-31
WORKS IN WOOD.
A Carver Who Never Got
an Art Lesson.
HIS REMARKABLE TALENTS.
DlOvoIe Fenaia. Young italian Ranch
Lab0rer. chisels 1--WE Pugil-
isiic Champions.

Diov0ie Eenaia is a young Italian sculp-
tor with an ambition 20 work Ia wood IN
stead Gf clay. His studio is a back yard
In the rear Of q saloon az 1901 Mission
street, aud his models are iithographs aud
ntses gsAaa!..
Young Fenaia never had a lesson In art,
but be- has talent, perhaps genius waiting
to he deyel0 ped, for his first efforts give
evidence Of remarkable ability.
II Fenaia were possessed of a musical
voice some Patti might come along and
discover him. and the world might listen
10 his singing and repeat the story of his
meeting with the prima donna. But it so
happens that his talent is confined to
sculpture, and for that reason nobody
notices him.
Three years ago Fenaia came from
Italy to California. He was then just
past 20 years of age, without any technical
knowledge, however. and relying on his
strong arm to gain livelihood in the New
World His father was small farmer in
Northern Italy, near the Swiss Alps, and
not lar distant from Milan, so that the
young immigrant would be called
Milanese. Only what an Italian boy may
learn of art from occasional glimpses of
statuary in the neighboring city was all
young Fenaia had to guide him. His
parents were poOr-tOo poor, indeed. 10
give him an education in the arr schools
that were so near aud yet so far out of
reach. But it is possible he found in
spiratiOn from tile masterpieces around
him in boyhood and carried it until An
opportunity presented itself to develop the
latent talent.
When Fenaia found employment in
California it was on a ranch near Fresno.
He labOred hard in ali kinds of weather
and at last got a bad cold that put an end
TO his toll in the open fields AS the mall
ady did not leave him. Fenaia came to San
Francisco for medical attendance. In the
choice of a physician he displays unusual
simplicity. or rather Ignorance, regarding
the profession of medicine, as the advice
of Chinese herbaliSt is accepted in pref
erence to the knowledge of other doctors.
he went TO see the Chinese doctor"
remarked friend of his last night at 1901
Mission street. "He thinks the Chinese
can cure him-I don't know"
The speaker was an old man, with beard
turning gray, and n general appearance
that indicated life of toll. The words he
spoke were cOl0red with tinge of the
soft Latin pronunciation. and broken by
oGd Italian phrases; and he was enthusi-
astlc over young Fenaia's artistic accom-
plisnments. Said he:
HE never took a lesson. His father
was poor and Diovole, he never could
learn 10 initiate the artists. But come this
way. l show you what he does"
The old man passed into a bare room
back of the saloon and lighted one of the
| gas jets. A few advertising prints hung
| around the walls, and some chairs, ia bles
and boxes comprised the furniture. On a
| round table at the back wall stood two
! hgures-Jlm COrbett and John l.. Sulli-
van in fighting attitude.
There it is" exclaimed the SCULPTOR 8
| friend in evident exultation, pointing to
| the figures.
"Had he model?" was asked
This" was the reply as a time-worn
| lithograph was displayed showing the
| pugilists in the ring.
Fenaia's figures are about four feet b Ugh
anu carried out in very fair proportions.
! There is some action about them. The
detail Is ceverly wrought and faithful
according to the lithograph, which, as a
matter of course, is stiff and wooden" /"
| The anatomical features excel the orig
inals. and 1t is not difficult TO recognize the
fighters faces.
The most remarkable part of the young
artists statues is that they are Of solid red
wood instead of clay or plaster.
HE carved them out of big blocks of
wood" excIaIming the admiring friend of
Fenala. 1.-The only tools he had were
two butchers knifes and chisel and ham,
mer. Here you see block that he has
for the figure of George Washington.
Yes. 1t is slow, but he cannot do hard work
on account of his health, and be spends his
time at this"
Young Fenaia is ranchhand, poor, am
oitious and talented, but unfortunate and
uBrecOgniZed.