New-York tribune., 1910-06-10
THE WAX BUST
Sworn Testimony to the English
Origin of DR.. Bode' Leonardo"

From The London Times.
The Burlington Magazine" contains
copies of affidavits by Messrs. Albert
Djirer Lucas, Thomas Whitburn and
John Stephens with regard to the wax
bust Of Flora, the authorship of which
was lately the subject of controversy in
Germany and England Advance proofs
of the pages containing these affidavits
have been forwarded to us by the COur-
tesy of the editors.
The first affidavit is that of Mr.. Albert
DUrer Lucas, of No 30 Padwell Road
Southampton, only son of Richard
Cookie Lucas. sculptor, who was born in
Salisbury in the year 1900, and who in
the year 1916 resided a. No. 40 Noting
ham Place, London.
Mr.. Lucas states that he was born in
the year 1923, and in the year 1916 was
residing with his father at No. 40 Not
tingham Place. He continues:
! well remember the circumstances re-
lating to the Flora bust. Mr.. Buchanan, a
we'll known London art dealer, wished to
have certain oil painting. which he sent
TO my fathers house by the hand Of Cap
tain Berdmore. reproduced in the form Of
a wax bust. This piCture-of which at the
time made a small copy in oils, still in my
possession and lately reproduced in various
illustrated iournals-Was attributed. at that
time TO Leonardo da VinCi, but now to some
artist of his school, has been definitely and
authoritatively traced TO the possession Of
the late Miss Morrison, of Basidon Park,
and was recently exhibited by her with sew
eral of my fathers works in wax at the ex-
hibition of pictures held at the Grafton Gal
lery, London. in November. Decem Der and
January last ] assisted my father in the
preparation of the clay for the model. He
procured the clay from a firm of pOtters IN
Lambeth.
| saw the said Richard Cookie Lucas at
work from day TO day upon the clay model
of the Flora bust, and have A perfect and
vivid recollection of the circumstances and
incidents connected with the entire produc-
oil dol -g.r,vv v1FAi1 tod
| assisted my father in taking the plaster
mould. It was my fathers custom 10 pro-
cure the wax he used for casting his figures
from WaX-ChandlerS and others in the form
of candle ends, which were melted and
poured into the plaster mould. To obtain
a proper distribution of the wax on the
interior surface of the mould II was neces-
sary to turn about and rock the mould, a
task requiring considerable strength and
care, and in which ! assisted When the
wax cast removed from the plaster
mould ! assisted my father by coloring the
hair and the flowers thereupon and in
modelling and coloring the flowers for the
right hand. which rested near the left
breast of the figure.
AS Mr.. Buchanan did not complete his
share Of the transaction. the bust was cast
upon my fathers hands. Shortly after
ward Buchanan left England, and his
stock of pictures was disposed OF by auc-
ton bv Messrs Christie, Manson SS Woods.
The bust was subsequently removed to
the house my father built at Chilworth,
where II was a prominent object in his
studio Tor many years
About the wear 1861 my father draped the
figure as shown in the photograph taken
from II by him and which has been recently
frequently reproduced
After the death of my father the house
was purchased in 1888 by Mr.. Simpson and
l removed the bust and many other works
OF my father to my own premises. Chill
worth Grove adjoining, and stored them
in a wooden shed or OuthouSe.
In the wear 1888 Mr.. Simpson bought my
house also and he made it a condition that
| should include all the large groups and
figures. including the Flora bust. as well
as a great number OF smaller works and
medalions In wax. in the purchase. This
did and the Flora bust passed from my
possession to that of Mr.. Simpson.
Mr. Thomas Whitburn. Of Guildford. was
NV friend and fellow student at the British
Museum Schools and constant visitor at
my fathers house. He was regarded
quite a friend of my family and had un-
restricted access to my rather's studio
with me.
The second affidavit. by Mr.. Whit
burn, contains statements confirmatory Of
the first. and the third. that OF Mr. John
Stephens. solicitor. of Southampton, de-
scribes the circumstances attending the
making OF the other two.