New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-21
WOMAN-MADE STATUARY.
SEVERAL sCULPToRs OF THE GENTLER
SEX TO COMPETE AT PARIS
MISS ELSIE WARDS MAsTERPIEcE-FEw OF TIE
GREAT WOMEN OF HISTORY HAVE BEEN
HoNoRED WITH STATUES

The American National Jury on Sculpture for
the Paris Exposition is composed of II. c. Adams.
D. c. French, Charles Graehy, Bella L. Pratt, ].
Q. A. Ward and dorado Taft. Sculpture is com
paratively a field for women. Among the
women sculptors who produced the statues shown
az the Worlds Fair, working under the direction
Of dorado Taft, were Julia Bracken, Ellen Rankin
and Mrs Lou w. Moore. Miss Bracken had
charge Of the women modellers, ard herself mod
eled the large figure of illinois Welcoming the
Nations" which stood above the door of the IIli-
nos Building. Mrs. Lou Moore has been
mended by the Art Students League. When the
National Sculpture Society of New-York accepted
her bust Of John r. Bensley this considered
strong the judges refused to believe it the
work of woman.
Bessie Potter Is another sculptor whose work has
been in great demand Three cities claim Miss
Potter. Born in st. Louis, she educated in
Chicago, and recently married a painter r. w.
Vonnoh. in New-York She is a member of the
National Sculpture Society, honor which only
three four other women enjoy
Accompanying this sketch is a picture of Miss
Elsie Ward of Denver "a pupil of St. Gaudens), as
well a picture of her latest work. Miss Ward
recently returned from Paris. She has a studio
in the Kittridge Building. in Denver, and when
visited by Tribune correspondent told this of her
career:
Il always wanted to be a sculptor. Even a
child my predictions all in the direction Of
modelling, and friends and relatives used to laugh
at what they considered such peculiar tendency
for a girl.
There's clay bank near little white frame
house, a quiet town in Missouri, where on
drowsy days. with several boys and
girls, 1 used to play at fighting battles. The
soldiers were rudely moulded out of the clay The
officers in these miniature armies larger than
the privates They likewise less clumsily
fashioned. l always moulded the generals and
majors. They used TO say that my figures were
more skilfully made than those of my boy COM
panions.
Il was born in Howard County, Mo-, and spent
my early childhood there For the last twelve
years 1 have lived in Denver.
II first studied art here, and then went to New
York where 1 studied with st. Gaudens at the
Art Students League and had the good fortune
to win first honors In three large modelling
classes. After two years there and one year in
Mr.. Mowbray's life class in drawing went abroad
in the summer Of 1898.
'T spent all last year in Paris. 1 went over to
go to school, bnt ST. Gaudens said: No, have a
studio of your and go to work and l will
come sometimes and see what you are doing So
I put the necessary paraphernalia in bare, well
lighted little room and proceeded to work mornings
on what came to my mind did some relief
work and a minor piece or two, and then started
in on The Boy and the Frog found my model
after many trials. He professional. though
but ten years old. and he told me once that
liked to play as well he and that seemed
about three years old. But he taught me much
French and posed well.
Securing a model for the boy was only small
part of the difficulty which confronted me. I
was next faced with the question of getting a
frog.
THE frog was essential for the subject shows a
child teasing a frog with straw and DIM
cult to manage. In the first place went ever a
large part of Paris to find him. Found, he was
restless, and had to be held with one hand while
he was modelled with the other. Even then he
hoped away more than once.
The Boy and the Frog occupied several
months of my time, but it labor of love, and
1 worked enthusiastically. When I finally finished