The record-union., 1895-04-04
THE SILVER STATUE CONTROVERSY.
Is Ada Rehan, Its Model, Bow
Legged?
What People Think of It-Experts in
Anatomy and Art May Test
Their Knowledge.

| The Montana silver statue now on free
exhibition at the Weinstock, Lubin 6S
Co. establishment, on K street, is daily
viewed by hundreds of people. Its ex-
hibition has brought on dispute based
upon criticisms which deserve examina-
ton.
When Montana resolved to make an
exhibit at the Chicago Worlds Fair and
fixed upon statue to be modelled in
silver, the projectors looked about for a
model. A great many beautiful women
were willing and some very anxious to
be taken as patterns. But the artists
were not looking for a beautiful woman
alone-they wanted a figure as nearly
true as is possible to the rules of artistic
proportion firmly established in the
realm OF art.
So it was that Lillian Russell, the beau
tiful, was rejected because her figure is
not true to the rules. She is too stout, too
broad-shouldered and waspish of waist.
Marie Wainwright was too small and too
short of neck, and another too tall and
another too short. Some were too thick
and some too thin, and so il went until
Ada Rehan, the actress, was agreed upon.
And the mlrth OF the thing was that Ada.
HIOtl65G anu I6lIIIuG "OItldu, ulu uOL
apply, and had not thought of doing So
and had TO be coaxed and bribed to pose
The result is the statue now on exhibit
ton, and that these criticisms are made
OF it: l. The figure is bow-legged. :. 1t
IS masculine In feature. >. The ankles
are too broad and flat. 4. The arms are
! those of a coal-passer. 8. The face is too
thick. I. The loot is too flat and too low
| in the instep. s. The waist is that of a
! man. 8. 1t Is ungraceful in pose.
These expressions have led US to ex-
anime them critically, and the reply to
| be made is justified by the rules of art,
though the statue is not perfect by any
means. First, the figure is heroic, being
three inches taller and proportionately
larger than the model. This gives to it
| that apparent maSculinity which is not
altogether real. Secondly, the sheen of
| light upon the polished silver maks the
shadows deep and sharp, and thus
hardeus the face and gives it apparent
angularity. Thirdly, the pose is quite
natural and easy, that of rising on a step.
slight inclination and propulsion Of the
body, with the weight strong and firm
upon the toes and ball of the right foot,
giving that fatness to the foot which it
! has naturally in such a pose when un-
shod.
Fourth, the figure is not bowlegged, as
line drawn from the hips 10 the toes
Will quickly prove. There is lust a sug-
! gesiIon OF sway of the body to the right,
such as graceful woman might coquet-
usGIy make in taking a springing step,
and this brings the line OF the center OF
gravity to the outer edge OF the right
loot and misleads the critics who
insist upon xthe bowlegged proposition.
/ The ankles being uuclad and ungaitered
appear fiat, but not untrue, as measure
ment OF the ankle IL contrast with the
swell OF the leg just above it will prove.
4 round ankle - not a thing OF beauty
and very far from an artistic demand
besides 1t is an anatomical impOssibiIity
the way humans are put UP by Dame
Nature.
Let those well-furmed women who
think Ada is too thick of neck or arm
measure their own neck and arms, add
the increase Of circumference demanded
by three inches addition TO stature, and
AQa's neck and arms will be found to be
welI-advanced TO the demand of the art
lists ideal, though lot perfection by any
means. AS for the figure being stout
WASTED, let this be said: 1t is uncorseted
and the amplitude Of waist is not much
out OF proportion to the breadth of
the hips. The Grecian models at the Art
Gallery III the School of Design room
will demonstrate this truth. The figure
is slightly IUll or embonpoint in the
opinion OF some. That is true and prop
erly so. The artistic figure should not be
Tat OF abdomen,