The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-10
The ETnrcel Art studies.

The Marcel Art Studies.
Jean Marcers living statuary and art
studies as shown at the Grand this week,
form an exhibition the equal of which has
never been seen on any public stage. 1t is
an exhibition that can hardly be fully ap-
preciated with but one view of it and is
well worth witnessing several times. NJ.
Marcel is French artist-not a Snowman
and he goes about presenting his reproduc-
tons as conscientiously as if he were
gagged in exhibiting the original paintings,
sculpture and bas reliefs.
To the spectators viewing these classic
art studies the absolute control exercised
by the models over face and muscle seems
remarkable But to one standing on the
stage within close range of them the eX-
hlDlIlon takes on an even more wonderful
qualty. For, seen at distance of only
three feet and without the footlight aid to
illusion, these men and women, when once
posed for group, still seem inanimate and
are entirely motiOnleSS. The person who
views these beautiful pictures from
chestra chair is likely to conclude that
their projecting involves considerable me-
chanical device, but il is nearly altogether
question of artistic skill, since the
chanical equipment for these art studies
is of the simplest. There is a big gilded
the top of this frame, hidden from the audi
ence, are electric lights in colored glass
bulbs. Different colored lights used
for different pictures AS NJ Marcel ex-
planned in broken French to his newspaper
visitor yesterday afternoon, it would be
impossible to reproduce faithfully the
World-famOuS paintings without the per-
feet light effects There are two moving
platforms used-one for the statuary and
the other for the paintings-and while a
group of figures is being displayed in the
gold frame on one platform another group
is preparing for exhibition on the other
which is concealed in the wings. When the
drop curtain falls the platform in the wings
is ready 90 be rolled up to the frame with
its living picture. and the other platform is
rolled off on the opposite side to be made
ready for another reproduction in SCULPTURE
or has relief.
There are twelve models in all and most
of them are French men and women who
have posed in the studios of Paris M
Marcel goes 20 work with the deftness of
long practice. The man who poses as the
French soldier in the wineshop painting is
the leading assistant in preparing the plat
forms and the scenic backgrounds, but NJ.
Marcel trusts no one TO arrange the figures,
always doing this part of the labor him
self.
II have some American models" said the
artist, but the French models are usually
the best. The three principal models-two
men and one wOman-who appear in the
more difficult poses of the has reliefs
have been with me for nine years."
Standing close beside these models the
visitor could hardly see them breathe and
there was not the wink of an eyelash to
betoken the presence of life. The time
would seem interminable while the studies
were being exhibited but in reality only
about two minutes is taken up for each
picture. As soon as one picture is finished
the models shift their positions for the
next. They aid each other in donning the
necessary draperies, and everything is ac-
complished silently, easily and with the
matter-of-fact manner of long habit.