Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-30
ART NOTES.

Mr. and Mrs. Victor Mindeleff, whose dec
orative flower and still life studies In
water color have fer several years found
special favor in the eyes of the knowing
as well as a prominent place in various
leading exhibitions, have of late been en-
gagged in making typographical models for
exhibition in the st. Louis worlds fair,
which was opened today. This is a work
which they both have been much Interested
in for a considera BILE time, and which they
themselves have brought to a high plane
of merit. 1t Is in way both scientific and
artistic, and requires both mathematical
accuracy and artistic skill for Its success
full accomplishment For this reason to-
biographical model makers are rare. and
models such as those which Mr. and Mrs.
Mindeleff have recently finished attach to
themselves potent interest aside from
that for which they were constructed One
Of these models was made for the United
States geological survey, and illustrated
the Arizona irrigation system: the other
two were for the Pennsylvania railroad. and
graphically pictured its new road system In
Philadelphia and New York, respectively.
The Arizona model was seven by twenty
one feet in dimensions, and showed the Salt
river storage reservoir and irrigable land
near the little town of Mesa. Illustrating
the methods of diverting the water from
the river and applying it to the crops and
the result. On scale of $50 feet to an inch
mountains $500 feet high were mada tn
tower at the north end of the model above
plain of broad level land, a part of which
had been reclaimed and was apparently
covered with luxuriant vegetable growth.
This was working model; real water filed
Its reservoir and ran through its irrigation
bitches, but at no time did it descend to the
level of a mechanical toy. This Is the great
difficulty and danger, from which any
model is only rescued by the artistic feeling
and knowledge of it's modeler and it is in
this particular that Mr.. and Mrs Minde-
leff's work attained special excellence With
wood, metal. burlap, plaster and paint they
created a picture such as other artists
might put upon canvas, yet which at the
same time had utilitle features From
first to last the method of construction was
interesting and original. Built upon a
wooden frame, with expanded metal lath-
Ing a base, the plaster was laid on with
burlap introduced to tighten and strengthen
1t. All the modelling of the mountains
canals, desert, etc, was done directly with
out use of clay models the plaster being
carved out to the desired form before It
had dried. This gave to these portions Of
the model sharpness which could not
otherwise have been got. and represented
the rock formations with splendid accuracy
In the coloring also great care was taken
tints of the rainbow cliffs and dull desert
sand. The plaster was rather dyed than
veneered, and the effect was admirable
Sharp contrast was shown between the des-
ert and the freshly reclaimed lands the
fields OF alfalfa, the fruit orchards and vine
yards being parted by only a span from the
lifeless gray OF the burning sands. The
United States government will exhibit this
model at St. Louis for the education OF
the people, and with the hope Of obtaining
thereby a general interest In the scheme
and cooperation on the part Of the state
legislators, but aside from these particulars
tistic interest.
Quite different. possibly less picturesque.
but equally as interesting, are the models
for the Pennsylvania railroad. They are on
the same scale and much the same order as
the Curtis models of Washington, though
possibly less mechanical and certainly more
effective The one showing the terminal
system In West Philadelphia II eight by
eighteen feet In dimensions. and represents
an area about three miles and a half ia
length by one and half In breadth Fair
mount Park and the river occupy the fore
ground the railroad system passes through
the middle OF the model. and masses Of
houses form the background. This arrange
ment Of areas, which 10 specially happy.
10 OF course natural but the selection OF
boundaries BY which 1t Is utilized are TO
Here sSein the effort was to avoid stere-
otyped dinadnutive appearance. Hundreds
Of blocks Of tiny houses were cut out OF
wood according to the plat book, and pho
tographS ret Ia place and painted until q
miniature city eroes upon the models
plane. 70 reproduce On these little struo-
lures the actual color os the originals was