The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-05-24


Walters lecture gave them a good oppor-
tunity of learning something. In the
'atelier' in France, we always used to
have the lectures on artistic anatomy illus
trated by live models and corpses. Do
you think we looked upon those models as
we should have looked upon-well. any
one in bathing dress, for instance for
| think they are hideous. We looked
upon the model just as model. and it
never struck US to consider that IL was
alive.
NOW here. since the days of Virgil VIII
Iiams, there have been no lectures on art
istc anatomy, and even his were not illus
trated. Can you wonder that the Sketch
Club took advantage of the opportunity of
hearing a good lecture, illustrated by
most exceptional model?
"Of course twelve LECTURES would not
cover the subject. but one was better than
nothing. Sandow is not artistically beau
full, but he is very interesting because the
invisible muscles ara visible in him. When
l think of some of the Italian m Odels,"
continued Miss Mccormick, with an air OF
disgust Their arms were developed, but
their bodies and legs were like snails.
They were not so educating as well-de-
veloped models"
"Do you think that 1t would be equally
educating for a woman model to pose be-
fore an audience composed exclusively of
men?" was asked.
ITO tell you the truth, that question
never suggested itself to me-" replied
Miss Mccormick reflectively. women
don't 60 in for muscular development. At
least they are only just beginning to do so.
II woman were posing merely to exhibit
her beauty, as a sort of Venus, it would
be natural for artists to 60. but any one
else would only be attracted by curiosity.
although no doubt all the men would
60. The fact is. do not see why the lee
ture was for women only; it was very
foolish. A lecture on art. even with a
living model may just as we'll be attended
by a man as by woman"
Mrs. John Vance Cheney. who is an
associate member of the Sketch Club. was
very decided in supporting the members of
that organization.
II did not attend Mr. Soly Walters lee
ture." she said, "as | was very much &C.
cupied that week by work in connection
with the woman's congress. That was my
sole reason Tor not being present The
members of the club are all ladies of
culture, ard l am convinced that in pro-
noting and countenancing the lecture they
were actuated by tbs desire TO further
their art studies"
After speaking thus in defense of the
art students, Mrs. Cheney reflected for
few momen IS, and then continued, 81 feel
that they were perfectly justified in giving
the lecture exactly as they did. You can
not study art properly without going to
nature. In all art. not merely the exterior
but the entire human being is to be con-
sidered, the mind and soul as well as the
body. Now l honor the young ladies for
getting the most perfect model they could
procure, for Sandow. from a physical
standpoint at least, is better than any one
else they could have secured"
When asked the question that had
been put to MISS Mccormick respect
ing the educating influence of a woman
posing for an audience of men, Mrs.
Cheney replied that she preferred snot
to consider hypothetical cases. 81 only
care to speak OF Solly Walters lecture for
members of the Sketch Club and their
friends" she concluded, land with regard
10 that. all l can say is that a human being
is Gods work of art and should be studied
Just do bIScs n uuncE VI any LuiuR else he
has made"
Mrs. L. a. Phelps of Berkeley was warm
in her enthusiasm over the artistic culture
to be derived from the illustrations to an
art lecture that such perfectly developed
model as Sandow can bestow.
at is an education in physical develop
ment to see the play of his muscles" she
said. II am not an art student in any
sense of the word. but l admire beautiful
pictures and all kinds of plastic art Why
anyone should howl al ones seeing this
beautiful living statue, l cannot imagine.
In lecture on art or anything else, Illus
trations are Invaluable, and what antique
statue, however perfect, could have shown
the play of the muscles and have conjured
them up at the lecturers command as San
dow did? If he had been an ape up there
it would have been the same thing to the
women present. They looked at the mar.
velous development of his muscles only.
"As it was he presented an Infinitely more
modest spectacle than an ordinary man in
a bathing suit"
Mrs. Phelps responded by an emphatic
negative to the question OF whether a
woman might with equal artistic value
pose for an audience of men. THAT
would be very different thing, very" she
declared. "Those ladies who heard Solly
Walters lecture were cultured, refined
women, and they naturally looked at the
whole thing from the point Of view of art
exclusively. Men being of cosrssr. ruder
nature would not 60 to hear the art lecture
aud profit by 1t. They would be attracted
by the fact that an undraped woman was
going to pose and they would 90 to see the
model
"There is no parallel between the two
cases at ALL" concluded Mrs. Phelps. 1.-THE
coarse natures of men take that out of
the question"