Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-06
THE OzOMULSI0N CO.. 81 De Pester St, New York.

much struck by 1t. If you would only pose
Tor me you would see what magnificent
"Lakme" you would make: Oh. do not mis-
understand me; only the head and Shout
derS!'
1T was a cool proposition, but as Gubert
Is gentleman, he made it in a respectful
ana gentle manner. Briefly, the young ar
t1ste Of the Eldorado accepted and took
liking for posing. She has posed for several
painters"
She posed for G. Cain and Sainpierre,"
suggested the soulful-eyed one.
There are plenty of well-known actresses
and singers who pose" added her friend of
the statuesque lines.
In a word, we find our models every
where and anywhere, even In Partisan So
ciety," concluded the painter $50 long as
they make ideal models for the subject in
hand. And it comes expensive, allezv'
Then he told US the following truthful
story. 1t concerns (all things considered)
the most expensive model ever known to
the Latin Quarter.
Venus With the Strawberries
There was once a talented young painter
of the Latin Quarter whose name was
George and whose popularity was that he
painted nothing. 1t was known, however,
that he was preparing to produce master
piece-a Venus With the Strawberries''-
which should strike all Paris dumb with adj
miraton
George talked so much about his Venus
With the Strawberries" that it became cele-
brated in the Latin Quarter.
Its drawing Will be superior to that of
Bougereau," predicted his friends who were
colorsts.
Its coloring viii be finer than that of
Bougereau," said his friends who were
strong in drawing. Once critic cited it In
review article comparing 1t with the
Venus Reclining of velasquez and the
Venus With the Little Dog of Titan
George was popular in the Quarter, being
an independent orphan with SO a week
clear income.
What prevented George from painting his
Venus With the Strawberries was not so
much laZiness as lack of ideal model.
One evening, however, in the third year of
the Venus he stroled idly along a little
street beside the Odeon. Looking up, he
saw vision At window whose curtain
she had forgotten to draw stood, calmly
combing her golden hair, the very Venus of
his dreams.
For a dollar George obtained the name
and occupation of the young beauty from
her janitress. Her name was Clara She
was good girl and worked sewing ma
chine in small family shoe factory With
the greatest delicacy he made her acquaint-
ance, spending three evenings and $3.50
coming to the point.
II will pose for the head and shoulders"
said Clara. the fourth evening.
An Exacting Young Woman.
Get your canvas ready" she said on the
fifth. In his delight George spent 50 on
new paints and brushes and $3.50 on sun
dries, including cakes and Madeira. Yet at
the end of the first sitting he discovered
that Clara made an unsatisfactory model.
She would play about the shop, bouncing
herself on the springs of his big sofa ito
keep warm, and every ten minutes she
would declare herself either tired or hun
CRY.
To persuade her to pose seriously George
bought her, from time to time, a 6-franc
feather boa, 14-franc silk shirt waist, a
5-franc hat and several fine pieces of fire
gilt Latin Quarter jewelry-thus conducting
himself in more than a correct and gallant
manner, according to Latin Quarter stand
ards Yet the Venus With the Strawber-
ries'' made poor progress. Clara would eat
the strawberries; and then, she discov-
cred the measure of her power-which was
the measure of Georges devotion to the
Venus his so long projected masterpiece,
the caprfcious model demanded to be dis
tracted" while posing. During three morn
ings George was forced to pay broken
down elocutionist to read aloud to her from
penny-dreadful feuilietous, which made her
blood run cold and spoiled her tints. This
being stopped out of supreme artistic con-
siderations, she insisted on monograph
to sing her the popular songs of the day.
Notwithstanding these things, Clara devel-
oped strange reluctances. At last the truth
came out.
And Then She Married Him.
81 ought not to pose Venus for anybody
but my husband" Clara faltered; and there
was that in her eye which showed she
meant it.
George was young. impulsive, ali for art
and independent. There was no one to for
bid the banns.
81 will never find such another model he
said to h.. self. So he proposed marriage
and was accepted.
The wedding made a stir In the Latin
Quarter. For painter to marry his mode.