Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-06
FROM A KANSAS CITY MODEL.
COOPER's PAINTING, .'TRILBY," HAS
A LOCAL INTEREST.
The Original Once Employed at En-
cry. Bird, Thayer n Co.'s-only
the Name Lacking to Conn
pIete "a Pretty Romance.

A pretty romance of local interest sur
rounds Cooper's painting OF "Trilby' now
on exhibition In this city. Some phases OF
the story nave been gossiped about Tor a
year or more. but not until now mas II
been given to the public in anything ike
complete form. The model for this beauti-
full picture is not only a Missouri girl. but
for some time she was a resident OF Kan
sas City. Cooper himself is a Missourian,
by the way. having been born in st. Louis,
although he was located in New York for
a long time as an illustrator on Frank
Leslie's Weekly and for some years past
has lived at San Jose, Cal.
Nearly two years ago, when Cooper's
celebrated painting. 9TH Morning of the
Crucifixion,' was on exhibition in TINS
city, his manager, Mr.. Lincoln, remarked
to a local artist that Mr.. Cooper was look
ing for a suitable model TO pose Ior Il
painting representing Du Mauriers hero
inc In the nude. The artist said that he
could point out the very woman for ms
purpose, although he did not know her
name. much less whether she would con-
sent TO pose for a picture. He hai seen
her many times and with an artist as
cernment had noted her superb form. ne
knew that she was employed IN Emery,
Bird, Thayer & Co.'S department store
but nothing more.
sued the subject. After some inquiry ne
learned the young lady's name and some
thing Of her acquaintance. He soon man
aged to secure an introduction. lie was
so impressed with her physical beauty
that. as soon as possible. he cautiously
approached the subject. which was. sim
ply a business proposition TO him. but a
very different matter TO his new acquaint-
ance. She Spurned him Indignantly and
he could make his good intentions under
stood only by insisting that he be given
an opportunity to talk the matter over
with the girls mother.
From the mother it was learned that
HLa 60 haa 1FNEal - Asa.AnaE for EADNA
years, and that while hey had once been
well-to-do. they had met with reverses and
were at that time considerably in debt.
Both the mother and daughte were do
ing their share to relieve the family dis
tresses. but were making slow progress.
When it was explained that in case of an
acceptance of Mr.. Lincoln's proposition,
absolute secrecy as to the name
and identity would be preserved, the mat
coin agreed that if the young lady should
be accepted by Mr.. Cooper as a model. the
family Indebtedness would be cleared OF
and they should all be made comfortable.
Hr. Cooper pronounced Mr.. Lincoln's dis
covery the nearest approach to physical
perfection he had ever seen in his career
the terms agreed to by his manager. and
il was not long until the picture now on
exhibition was under way. While 'Trilby'
is one of the greatest. If not the very
greatest. of Mr.. Cooper's works, he frank
~ Acknowledges that much of his success
was due to his beautiful Missouri model.
In every detail except the lower part of
the face, the picture is a copy of the orig
inal.
The model never posed for any other
| picture. and probably never will, as she
is now the wife of a successful business
man and is living happily in one of the
large cities not more than a thousand
miles from Kansas City.
Cooper's "Trilby" is doubtless one of the
| greatest figure paintings brought forth in
many years. Although this artists. The
| Morning of the CrucifiXion.' and Clusters
Last Stand" have brought him great fame
in Europe as well as this country, his real
ization of the Du Maurier heroine is re-
garded by many as his masterpiece. 1t is
a superb piece of drawing. both as to the
| figure and its environments. Tit figure
| stands on a pedest al. apparently some
| three feet from a large screen. and the re-
| lief is so nearly perfect that it gives the
| impression Of complete proportion and dis
| lance The flesh tints-the most difficult
| detail in nude ~painting-are perfect. II
they appear as well in natural as in arti-
fetal light No artist ever produced finer OF
more natural tints than those found in
this painting