The morning call., 1893-12-17

money p0SSlDie out oil sucn contr-ct
could easily have added several thousand
dollars to his bank account by engaging
inferior assistants. Mr.. Happersberger
proved to be worthy of the confidence be-
slowed in him by the trustees of the Lick
monument, however, and the work will
prove the wisdom of their selection.
The figure Navigation is considerably
larger than life size, and gives splendid
evidence of the progress on this coast in
this branch OF art Conception as we'll as
execution deserve praise. The allegorical
figure, that of a woman seated on the bow
of a boat. slightly bent forward and hold
ing an oar. her left foot resting on q bundle
of merchandise, is a very acceptable one.
1t is full Of power and grace and is highly
spirited in expression. From the Illus
traton here given the observer will with
pleasure note the able manner in which
the modelling has been done from studio
of life. The drapery is tastefully arranged
and the grace there shown is of finish
reached only by sculptors of exception al
talent.
The building Of one of these figures re-
quires time and patience in addition to
talent. The first conception Is generally
made on a small scale and in wax. This
little work when completed is but the real
of the sculptor's ideal. 1t is the figure
brought out by something tangible as his
imagination presents It. In creating this
wax image life models are not used.
We're sculptors perfect there would be no
necessity for using life models at any
stage. but as they are not. nature is called
upon for aid. The little wax figure Is
i'm rfaat no Inf -.
proceeds to correct the errors of his imag-
iDatiOn. In wax be had nodded an arm,
and il seemed all right to him until the
arm of living model is posed before him.
Then his quick eye detects the errors in
curves or in some little detail and the cor
rection is made. And so with the little
figure to work upon and nature at hand to
guide the touch there is finally evolved the
true work OF art.
In executing a large piece of work from
small model an iron skeleton has to be
carefully constructed in exact propor-
tons, and this holds the clay in POSITION.
The iron bar that holds the outstretched
arm. for instance. must have graceful
curve similar to that which the figure will
show.
With the aid Of the iron .sksletop. which,
supports the weight, the large figure is
modelled from the small one. A clever
sculptor who is deft with his fingers can
turn out figure in weeks time. Such
one would do we'll enough for decorative
purposes on the top of a building. but 1t
can hardly be called a work of art, as it
will not bear close and critical examina-
ton. The fine lines on the face, the curves
Of the body and the artistic drapery are
missing. At first glance the fig
ure would be pleasing, but a Sec
ond would disclose some flaw, some
harsh line that would ruin the whole. and
careful examination would tell the story OF
haste and lack of attention to detail. Such
a 6gure as above mentioned necessitates
on an average eight months Of time to
model. and even then the sculptor Is
reluctant to leave ii. always finding some
little flaw, visible perha APPS to him only. that
should be corrected. The position of an
arm that was i'm pressive in the small
model may lose Its power in the larger, and
then the eDtire figure has to be changed.
Then, as he works ideas may suggest them
selves that cause him to entirely abandon
the plan be started with and begin all over
again.
The wax image is remodeed from life
and again are life studies used In perfect
ing the larger figure. In choosing his life
models he of course cannot find an ideal.
For days he has a woman whose head is as
near perfect as possible, according to his
ideal, pose for that alone. Then another
is chosen for her shoulders, another for h er
bust and a fourth for an arm. 1t NAV
take him weeks to find the foot he wishes
to reproduce. And 80 the work pro-
gresses-the building of the figure of the
beautiful.
Such work as this, developed after
months of care and study, is the kind that
catches the eye and holds the glance. and
it is in such work that the observer finds
each moment some delicate line of beauty
before unseen.
1t is to be hoped that Mr.. Happersber
ger will exhibit the casting of his figure of
California at the Mid winter Fair, and It Ia
also happy suggestion that one of Mr..
Gulielmo's figures or groups be placed
where 1t can be seen.
Few people have any idea of the labor
involved In creating monument such as
the one which will stand in front OF the
new City Hall. The work of the sculptors
finished, that is. the images in clay being
Clcdtou tue 64dcI size wished and with
every line as near perfect az possible. there
rs even more labor to be done. The CLAW
image is covered with plaster of paris. and
when this coating is hardened it is removed
in sections, pieces Of string having been
bound in places to separate the substance
In that way xactimpressions are obtained
OF every portion of the image without dem.
aging the original. These plaster of paris
casts are hollow They are coated inside
with a solution that prevents adhesion
and then another preparation of plas.
ter OF paris Is poured within. This
once 1t is hardened and the cast removed
shows facsimile of that portion of the
clay image. so that the clay figure ia re-.
produced, but in many separate pIeces. In
plaster Of paris models From these the
molders in bronze work. Much time ia
taken in arranging the sand around tho
pieces and when they are removed the i'm
press Is left once more. Then into this
final mold is poured the molten bronze
and when 1t is hard that portion of tho
figure is nearly completed. The final
touches are made bv sculptor WIN worLs