The San Francisco call., 1909-07-04
Beautiful Statue of a
Woman Evokes Praise
Sculptor Putnam's Latest Work Is Said to Be
the Finest Thing He Has Ever Executed
By LUCY B. JEROME

A midsummer calm reigns behind the
locked doors of the studios. but there
are few energetic spirits who seize
upon this season for a plunge into
the depths of idealism in search of the
vague and lovely conceptions which
constitute the unsatisfed part of the
artists life. and reproduce these i'm
aginings on canvas, in marble or
bronze, undeterred by the fact that
they may not prove "good sellers"
There are others who indulge in
general cleaning up at this time of
year. finishing up any stray bits of
work that may have escaped attention
earlier; and some who embrace the op-
portuntty for undisturbed and unfnter-
rupted work with gladness. and who
make the most of the few weeks be-
fore the exhibition days of fall and
winter shall arrive.
Among the summer studio workers
are Haig Patigan, Charley Dickman,
Ralph Stackpole and Arthur Putnam.
The last named belongs to the first
class, for he has been at work since
his recent return from San Diego on a
beautiful woman nude. which is ru-
mored to be one of the finest things
ONST COut6INCd anu cACCulCu UJ AlLl
The purity, modesty and delicacy of
the handling are said to be unequaled.
while as regards the proportions of the
beautifully modelled figure and the an
atomical structure. any one who has
seen Putnam's former work and heard
the high praise it evoked from those
competent to Judge such work will con-
cede the same qualities to this. his
latest figure.
tion. the nude depends for its perfect
effect on the lovely outlines of the
half dropping figure. its absolute grace
and beauty of pose and the marvellous
skill which embodies the utmost mod
esty and simplicity with the full
strength and luxuriance of womanhood
and the suggestiveness of untrammeled
life. The model is as yet only in clay.
Should 1T be cast in bronze il will be
a wonderful thing.
In her California street studio, TO
which she went when the closing of
the Studio building IN Presidio avenue
forced the occupants out. Miss Emily
Travis is busy with outdoor sketches
and studies, which she is working up
into finished landscapes.
Miss Travis has some bits of the
Mission which are charming in their
point of view. Tive. portrait studies Of
year old boy are among her latest
work The first of these represents
the head of an innocent and wonder
ing child, as he was induced to pose
the puzzled eyes looking straight at
the painter, and the rosy mouth ex-
pressing conflicting emotions sturdy.
blond haired and chubby this portrait
expresses all the winning traits of
childhood, while the second worked
up from quick sketch, shows the
same little lad in his afternoon nap on
a couch. In this picture the perfect
abandon of tired sleep. the relaxed
droop of the body and the warmth and
color of rosy limbs make themselves
strongly felt. The attitude of abso-
Lutte Inconsistencies has been caught
so perfectly that one is moved to walk
on tiptoe when approaching the
picture.
Miss Travis has several portraits, all
of them previous work-which are ex-
traordinarily strong ana vigorous. and
which bring out the unseen verities
of the sitter in an astonishing man
ner. The portrait of her old woman sit
ting with clasped hands, and the far
away look of old age in the hollow
eyes is one to enchain attention. An
announcement Of collective exhibition
of Miss Travis works would prove a
pleasing one to those who have watched
her progress.
Miss Lucille Page. young sculptress.
formerly of the Studio building. has
left for Boston, where her marriage
will shortly take place.
Mrs. Mention is occupying her house
boat at Greenbrae and Miss Julie
Heyneman is at present at Lake Ia
hoe, though she expects to go to
Europe soon after her return
Stackpole has been engaged on an
interesting head and bust, that of the
grandmother of Cyrus Cuneo, the young
illustrator, whose name is well known
through his clever work in the London
Graphic. Cuneo is San Francisco boy.
and has brother in business here. The
grandmother. who is over 80 years of
age, sat for the sculpture portrait with
some misgivings, but the result has
verified the predictions made concern
ing it. The head shows a perfect like
ness, and the modelling of the various
characteristics of old age. the lights
and shadows of the wrinkled counten-
ance, the deep burrows, and above all
the light of experience, seem to per-
meate the fine, rugged old head, are evil