The Washington weekly post., 1899-11-14
MODELS FOR ARTISTS
Girls Who Pose in the Studios
of Washington.
1T Is A PROFESSION WITH THEM
Rarely Indeed Does the Artist Ever Ad-
dres. Model. and at the Cercoran Art
Gallery .tadeBt Would as soon Think
OF Speaking to Marble ns TO a Model
something About One Of Wnshinsfon's
Nest Beautiful Professional Models.

A short time ago there appeared in the
advertising columns of local paper the
following advertisement:
PROFESSIONAL NODBs-FANCy POSES. AD-
dress at Miss A. 3. c. this ofRce.
To the ordinary reader this notice might
not mean anything. To the artists II
means a great DEAL for it advertises the
fact that they have another opportunity
to get a model. who may perhaps meet
the requirements Of the picture they de-
sire to put on canvas. But how little the
general public knows of this Very neces-
sary adjunct to the art tina; is so much
admired.
who constitute the models Of Wash
ington, and how are they securedY' was
the question that first suggested itself. a
journey to the CorcOran Art Gallery anu
a visit TO several of WashingtOn's most
prominent artists threw great deal OF
/ Iigh. on the subject, especially as the in ;
formation gained is so thoroughly at vari-
ance with the impressions of those who
have never really investigated the sub
ject.
There are at present any number OF
TCdels in this city who come from all the
walks of life Some OF them, the sons and
daughters Of well-bred people. whose pc
cuniary condition has compelled them to
adopt some means of livelihood, and hav
ing been especially well endowed by ma
ture, they have taken up posing, rather
than cle-k:ng in some shop which their
early training would make them think al
together too menial. On the other hand
there are those who, having good figures.
have taken up the work as an art, as a
| profession, just as one would take up the
i n q
sciences. This latter class is quite limited
in Washington.
Hard TO Get a Coed Model.
| While 1t appears to be true that there
are large number of models here to
draw from, it seems that when one is
needed for a fancy pose that the artists
| find it extremely hard to find one of good
proportions. In fact one artist said that
/ there are hardly more than three or four
OF his class to be had for love or money.
| When asked what he considered a per-
/ feet model. Mr.. Harry L. Mcdonald, said:
! she must be neither too tall nor too
! short; she should be well proportioned,
/ neither 700 fat nor yet too thin, and her
| skin must have a good coloring, although.
| OF course. this depends on whether you
| are making picture of blonde or a
| brunette and / can tell you further that
a model of this description is very hard
| TO obtain"
What is the relationship between an
| artist and his model?'
! THE relationship is purely a fraternal
one" said Mr. Mcdonald There is
never the slightest familiarity. Studio
4 l!fe in Washington is not as Bohemian as
| 1t is in Paris. This may be because there
! are not nearly so many students here, or
/ it may be from other reasons. Here the
| posing OF a model is business that can be
! INDUCED in by the most modest, without
| ever hearing the slightest intimation that
would bring a blush to the cheek As
said, IT Ia purely business arrangement
When the pose is through, the model
| leaves"
! At the CorcOran Art Gallery the model
/ is If possible, even more carefully guard
| ed. why, in the life classes" said an at
! tache of the gallery. models are treated
as statues. A student would as soon think
/ of making a remark to tire model as to
one of the pieces of marble in human
! form, and while such a thing has never
/ been attempted, 1t would not be tolerated
! for a moment. Models must be had If we
/ are to have art. and somebody must pose
as you know that purely imaginative pic
/ lures are not like those taken from
1
| nature.
II will give you an example," he said
''Of how much attention is paid TO the
models while posing" With that he push
| ed an electric button and a messenger ap-
peared. John" he said, "go TO the life
class and give this to the teacher in charge
and come back and tell me what she
says" John was gone about FIVE min
~utes. and returned with his answer As
/ he was about TO leave the room, my
| friend said to him.
John, who is posing this morning.
81 do not know. sir; did not notice"
WAS 1t a male or female figure?'
II could rot tell you. sir; but I'll look
again." he replied, and went out
This. my dear sir. will show you what
is thought OF models in the Corcoran Art
School," was the only comment on the
| servants answer.
MeaeIs Carefully Guarded.
At the gallery they refuse absolutely 10
give the rames of any of the models who
ere now losing. Some of them object to
it. and some DO not.
| There is now posing for the life class a
new French model. who has recently ar
Iiyed from Cincinnati. who is she?"
| was naturally the first question 10 enter
! the writer's mind. and this was quickly
followed oy another question: what does
she look like?" OF course, this story
would not be complete without glimpse
into the home life of this much -talked-or
class. How to find her was the question.
prominent artist was approached. and
was asked the following question:
who 10 your mind is the most popular
as well as the most perfect model now
] far he "a
! well, I'll tell you. There recentlv
came TO own from the West a beautiful
| French girl, who has all at once posed
herself into the good graces of the art!sts'
world; she is tall, shapely. and grace
full"
And her nane?"
''No, so fast, my boy. I'll come to that
later If she does not object she has lust
finished posing for picture here. and
the maid is helping her arrange her street
! costume"
He left the room, and in short while
returned with a bit OF paste board On 4
was engraved in conventional style Miss
! Belmont. Professional Model" She sent
word ,hat she would grant t5s writer an
| interview.
sne was living with a quiet family in
modest apartments in G street north
West When she came into the parlor.
instead OF the painted and Dedazzled
| specimen that many are led to believe
| models are, there was a tall stately. dig
| niied young woman. elegantly gowned
and with an expression on her face that
plainly indicated mo6esty and retirement
She is a typical Southern beauty a str;k-
| ing brunette, with large black eyes. and
very graceful In carriage After the usual
formalities had been gone throuSh win
Miss Belmont. at the writer's suggestion
al once began to talk of herself and her
| career in the art world.
Career Of One Model.
In the first place" she said 'let m.
tell you that Belmont is only my profess
sional name Ny real name is Gertrude
de Lesdeneir Ayre. and my home is IN
| Chattanooga. Tenn. Ny father was al
one time a prominent merchant OF tha,