New-York tribune., 1903-01-25
LIFE OF An ARTISTS MODEL IN PARIS.
4 TRANSCRIPT FROM THE EXPERIENCES OF ONE
WHO POSES FOR PAINTERS And SCULPTORS

when you pose for the ensemble do you al
| ways feel embarrassed?'
"Oh, no! After little experience one begins
to think that posing on >the raised daTs is abso-
lutely impersonal even before thirty or forty
| students, and one takes pride in the lines and
beauty of the modelling
1t should here be explained that Mile Theresa
is one of the most sought for models in Paris.
She poses to Bouguereau at the best known
academies, such as Julien's, Cormons, jules
Lefebvre's and Ger6mes. Her figure-lithe, slen-
der and classic-is reproduced in the form OF
nymphs angels virgins in many picture
now hanging in the rooms of prominent dealers
in New-York.
1T must be very fatiguing, is II not?
THAT depends upon the pose. 1 posed, for
instance. the other day for salome. 1 had to
support myself my left leg, keep the mus
cular tension of the torso, and throw my head
back as far as possible. The painter kept me
posing for four hours each day in this position.
OF course there were brief rests-ten minutes
rerose for forty minutes workout, neVerthe-
less. twice tainted away from pure exhaustion
Then, again, sometimes the poor devil OF q
painter or sculptor cannot afford to pay US cash.
has not money enough to buy coal to keep MS
studio warm. Consequently, we have to pose
nude and shivering in the cold, and catch awful
colds Suppose we take some custard ar<-
cheese
Tell me something about the different artsls
for whom you have posed?'
We'll have often posed to Rodin. although
am not exactly his type. Rodin prefers Wig
orous muscular models. with salient whipcord
sinevs Rodin is always good hearted. He
pays generously and often gives us biscuits and
coffee or wine. Jules Lefebvre is favorite win
the models, because he requires only short poses
and he is always civil-only one must be ex-
trennely punctual with Lefebvre or else he VIII
never eunploy YOU again. BougueTeau is grave,
stern and severe. He is generous but one must
never laugh and talk in his studio. and his wife
often peeps in to see what is going on. De La
Candara is always bright and affabe with his
models So is Gervex TO whom have posed on
various occasions during the last ten years 1t
is a good recommendation to have worked with
Gervex because he has the reputation OF oeing
very eXacting in the choice of his models
BouIanger is strict and severe. Boldini is
perfect terror-he flies into passion at the
slightest fault. and scolds you frightfully
By this time we had finished our little dinner
which was substantial, hot and succulent, and
only cost for us both l franc so centimes. or
about 81 cents.
You see it's not expensive" remarked Mile
Theresa but 1 have no time to take coffee,
because 1 am now due at my lesson
What lesson"
'Why. my lesson in painting You see, in the
evening I take lessons in commercial painting
screens fans bonbon covers. ladies' bags, etc,
and with this hope soon to earn as much as
do with posing You must remember that
among the models there are u number who are
married and who have children, and we all
look out for something in the future, because
viii, age a model loses the lines and classic pro-
portions of the form"
With these words Mile. Theresa glided swiftly
away, with a pleasant parting smile of adieu
c. J. b.