New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-09
THE MAKING OF A STATUE.
HOW THE SCIENCE OF MECHANICS IS
PRESSED INTO THE SERVICE
ART

When we look upon finished marble statue
says expert. rarely think Of the time and
labor that have been expended on IL. First model
must be made; but preliminary to this the
sculptor puts his ideas in the form of rough
sketch" in clay or wax. according to the dccacy
required Here the main points rapidly mould
ed In, and some idea Is obtained Of how the statue
will look when 1t Is finished. passing thought.
idea IL in this way fixed, and Is more carefully
worked up in the model AS n rule, the first model
is small and Is of clay or wax. and at first con-
siss of nucleus Of tow some such material,
which the clay is laid Bit by bit it is built up,
until by trimming and adding, 1attening and
rounding off, the figure comes to assume Its proper
proportions. The rough outlines of the sketch"
developed. new ideas added. others are al
tered. and by degrees the realization of the sculp-
tors thoughts begins TO appear In the clay
In the actual manipulation great care must be taken
that the clay OF the proper conssence and possesses
the requisite amount Of moisture. otherwise 1t may
become dry and crack A still more serious accident
is where the clay crumbles to pieces. In this way
the labor OF months may In few minutes vanish into
a OF debris experience which many sculptors
have had To guard against this the clay must from
time to time be molstened. and when work Is finished
for the day the model be carefully covered with
damp cloths. In this way accidents may be pre-
vented When large models have 10 be made. extra
precautions must be taken against drying. The nu-
clcus must be made strong, OF iron rods along the
outstreched arms legs, and the rods must be prop
erly fixed in a stable basis At first the figures are
modelled nude. and full regard is paid to all the ana
tcmical details. The drapery Is added aferward from
studies arranged on lay figures.
When the model Is finished according TO the taste
OF the sculptor second one is made OF the exact size
intended for the final piece OF work Where the
statue is to be made of bronze the fusize model Is
absolute necessity the casting in bronze is made
from the model and 1t reproduces the latter in every
detail Where the statue Is to he OF marble. the maj
model need not necessarily be full size, and many
sculptors prefer working from small, highly nnlshed
models. Usually however ful-sized model is made
in clay. The sculptor still alter or MODIFY Els
original design bringing certain features into greater
prominence subdung others. When the model is
finished a cast OF 1t Is taken in plaster. and this
latter is used the final model and, with II as Il
guide the block OF marble is carved by skilled work
men. This is art which has been carried 10 lgh
degree of perfection in Italy, and the workmen OF
Carrara are famous The sculptor makes his model
in clay and takes plaster cast and then sends 1t to
the works Carrara where II Is chiseled and thca
returned to him for the final touches.
After the choice OF suitable block Of stone
most important piece OF work has to be done name
IT, the marking OF certain points on the plaster cast
and the determination OF similar points In the
marble Various methods and instruments have
been recommended for this purpose In practice a
divided frame is used, and the exact distance OF
certain marked points on the plaster cast Is ac-
curately measured. Fixed points on the stone are
marked and from these the other points are meas
ured with instruments, and the depth to which the
stone must be cut drilled Is determined with
great accuracy. In this way all prominent points
are marked out and holes are drilled to the re-
qured depth and the intervening marble chiselled
awav at first roughly, then with greater and
greater care. till the marble begins 10 assume us
finished shape. In the larger sculpture works. one
marking. another
ling another the fine work. Finally stage IS
reached when 1t again passes into the hands OF
tho sculptor himself and he it Is who puts the
lines of genius into 1t with his fine Instruments
Although the workers In Carrara are clever, they
seldom are gifted enough TO supply the finishing
touches which give the characteristics of the great
sculptors themselves.