The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-08

from San Francisco, taking the Venus
with him. When he left he was under
contract with the syndicate to deliver an
Italian marble copy of the young lady
within six months from his departure.
That time was up last May, but across the
waters from his italian retreat came a
letter from the sculptor requesting an ex-
tension OF time in which to finish his
labors. His request was readily granted
by the syndicate. Two monts later, in
July last, Mr.. Schmid returned to San
Francisco. But he came alone. The mar
BILE Venus did not accompany him. The
sculptor on his arrival was besieged with
questions. Was it a success? Did the
plaster model arrive in Italy safe and I'M
harmed?
Was the same symmetry and intelli-
gence expressed in the cold, unfeeling
marble as in the plastic plaster?
Mr.. Schmidassured every one that every
thing was far above his most sanguine ex-
pectations. They might expect her on
any train following him.
Two months of authorization and ex-
pectancy followed. Then some mild in
qulries were begun, and as the other four
months have continued to roll slowly
along, and the express company kept
daily failing to bring across the continent
long, heavy oblong box, the coterie of
art-lovers have gradu ally lost all hope.
Every one agrees that Venus is some
where on the earth or under the waters
that cover it. 1t is not thought that any
one would wantonly do her violence. But
Just where she is is the disturbing question
To add to the quandary Of the art-lovers,
should the Venus never b. found, is the
possible fact that California will indeh-
nitely be deprived of Miss Marion Nolan.
The young lady is soon to make her debut
hn E,a
and she has not the time or the inclina-
ton to pose again. She leaves for the
East on Novem Der &c, and she may never
again appear before ali artist as a study.
The originator of the Venus tournament.
which resulted in the unanimous selection
of Miss Nolan, has about given up in de-
SPAR over the continued absence of the
statue.
"Where is the statue?" said she in re-
spouse to that question, "Well, that is
what / would like to know, too. All I
know is that it has not been delivered to
the syndicate yet, and what is more, we
have about given up ever expecting to see
it again. Mr.. Schmid's last extension of
time that we granted him in which to pro-
duce the statue, was up on the Sd of this
month. Both he and his attorney, Mr..
Choynski, when we gave them their last ex-
tension, agreed to surely have the figure
here by November 3. The time is now up
and still it is not here.
''It was on that date in 1894, just year
ago, that we gave the Venus to Mr.. Schmld
to take to Italy with him. He was under
contract to proceed TO Carrara, near Rome,
where is situated the most famous marble
works in the world, and to chisel marble
statue from the plaster one.
'When Mr.. Schmid arrived here, in July
last, he did not bring the statue with him
He said that few finishing touches about
ner head were necessary before it would
be completed, but that it would follow him
in a few days.
''If harm shall be proven to have be-
fallen her it will be distinct loss to Cali
fornian art. Ny idea in starting the
Venus contest was to arouse a new interest
in it and to establish new type of beauty
We have had a reign of technique with
out inspiration, OF manner without SUBJ
stance, and 1t seemed to me that we need
ed an outlet for the spiritual.
In giving us Venus de Milo the Greeks
embodied all that comprised their ideal of
wonanhood. She was neither spiritual nor
intellectual, the artist simply aiming al
physical perfection. There is an entire
lack OF the softer gent!er qualities of
woman's nature. In the Venus di Medici
We have the refined, sensuous type, with