The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-03
NUDE WOMAN
N 4 MASK
Long Mystery of Paris Is
Finally Cleared Up.
SHE WAS MARIE RENARD
And the Picture Was Painted
Seventeen Years Ago.
SHE WAS MARIE RENARD

Paris. Aug. 2-The story Of the now IA
nous painting. Ia Femme au Masque,
which was exhibited at ehe salon years
ago. has at last been told by La Petrie.
When the picture which was in the
nude, was first shown TO the public,
many people believed that the charms
Of some fashionable woman must have
been reproduced in it. The painting ere
ated a tremendous sensation and several
Parisians, who thought that their female
relatives were the subjects Of the genius
who painted the picture. sent demands to
him for explanations. As a matter OF
fact, the model was MdHe Marie Renard,
who IS row thirty-nine years Of age, and
had consequently seen twenty-five
springs in 1885, when the famous picture
was painted She was interviewed by
a representative OF the Patrie. and &C
cording 10 the writer who gives an
amusing account Of the conversation. she
said that it was lucky that he had not
had q chance Of broaching the subject
when he was at her own home, be-
cause her fond mother with whom
she dweIls. had always entertained the
bIissful notion that during the twenty
four years in which she has been posing
as a model she had never revealed more
than her pretty face and bust to the
artists eye and she does not care TO
6ispeI this comfortable illusion Certain
u. she continued. it was she who was
the model for the Femme au MasQue.
and then she gave her piquent version OF
It's origin. One day IN 1885 q lady called
on NJ. Gervex with an order for a 'nu,
leaving the details to him. He made
two sketches, and one having been select
ed he set 10 work. The sittings lasted
throughout the month OF July. the fair
model being daily at the studio from
70 O'Clock 10 noon Numbers of friends !
Iounged in and one OF them having sug-
gested the addition of the domino while I
she was resting, a trial was made, much 4
70 the delight OF the painter who, catch /
ing the novel idea, exclaimed. she is
very well like that She wiz retain the
domino" Thus was La Femme au
Masque." adopted, and. concluded MdIe.
Renard with a laugh, later on, when
the picture was sent to the salon the
mystery OF the fact created a lively SEN
sation People would have It the masked
woman was not an ordinary mortal.
The painting is stin the cause OF trou-
he between Maitre Barbour. who as
serted during the trial of a suit some
months ago that one OF the parties 10
the action. Madame du Cast, was the
model and that lady. who vehemently
asserts that she did not pose for the
artist
N. Gervex himself says the same thing.
In a letter in which he wrote in May TO
Maitre PIoyer the lawyer Of Madame
du Cast. the lady who is so indignant
e. having been represented by Maitre
Barbour as La Femme au Masque," he
stated: Il can certify 20 you that I do
not know Madame du Cast, and that
consequently she cannot have been the
model for the Femme au Masque Be
sides. it is Mdue Marie Renard who
posed FOR this picture. and 1t IS easily TO
verify this
What did Maitre Barbour say when ne
showed the photograph TO the judges?
According TO the shorthand report just
reproduced. after Nine. du Cast has pro
tested he remarked. II do rot imagine 5
that it is the affirmation Of these really ?
marvellous external Sits which can (
wound her but you know that nature. q
with curious caprfciousness, sometimes s
eiights In spelling her most beautiful I
works Il she had infused noble and a
pure soul into this elegant form, this $
woman would have been one of the won I
ders or creation. Nine. du Cast is in q
tensely angry Her efforts 10 induce ]
Asitre Barboux TO retract having passed t
unnoticed she has applied 20 different 5
officials. with a view Of the Institution +
Of legal proceedings. but so far in vain. 1
as she mas been sent by one TO another. d
from pillar 70 post. as the saying goes, L
20 far without any result. It may be re- 3
gar3ed as peculiar that Maitre Barbour II
dragged IN that photograph and spoke 7
as he did. without special reference 20 n
this particular question. it may be ex- 3
planned that the French bar-isters as p
vel as Judges. are allowed any amount
o. license. and that proceedings which 6
would not be tolerated for a moment in n
81 English law court are considered q
quite gair and natural n this country. 1t n
was on May that the photograph scene II
occurred at one q the metropolitan Pc q.
Tee courts and SIX DAYS later Nine. du n
Cast wrote 70 the President - the II
Benchers explaining the position. and &
begging him 10 use his influence on Mai T
TIRE Barbour 70 obtain a retractioa. Now ST
for two whole months she has been vain- Il
Is seeking the redress TO which she holds
herself entitled
In a letter which she has fust ad-
dressed 70 the Journal des Debats. Nine. =.
IL Cast briefly explains her position. In -
The course % this missive she SAYS. 7 =
had 20 repeat my complaint. and the NJ
President OF the Benehers. after having ar
sez. for me for five times al long inter ~
7als. ended by telling ne that Maitre -,
Sarboux refused all satisfaction. THIS =,
S how Two months have rolled BY with be
'ut Maitre Barboux having received his / p,
summons 70 q police court" This sum n
mons has now been served on him. ts,
Aademoiselle De Isle du Fies f. IA he
nous old lady Of France. had died AZ /.
Nantes. Al the age OF 10 years. She was e.
'crn On the nineteenth Serninal Of the 1.
sxth year of the French Republic. ac- q.
oTeing % the old calendar-1hat IS 70 -
IA. april :. IFS. She accordingly lived .
4 three centuries Nine de Isle su Fier Y
las been LADY IN waiting 70 the Duchesse tas
e Berry had seen the first Napoleon 81 4
Iaatss IN lsos, and was for some tine ia lur