The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-08-21
SCULpTOR'S WORK
IS EXPLAINED
BY dorado TAFT
Glimpse Into Sculptor's Stu
do is Granted Chautauqua
Audience Tuesday Night.

dorado Taft, the eminent sculptor
who gave the Richmond audience
glimpse into an artists heart as well
as his studio in his unique lecture
Tuesday evening, was one of the most
enjoyed lecturers ever on the chautau-
qua platform.
When I received my list of assign
ments for this season, l was glad
when saw Richmond said Mr..
Taft in response to his introduction.
Whenever | think of Richmond, l
think Of Mr.. Bundy. and next | think
of your fine little art gallery in your
school. and then | think of my friend,
William Dudley Foulke, whom | met
on a steamer as we were going broad
and of Mrs. M. F. Johnston, that won
derful woman who is creating art
circles in so many community cen
ters.'
In beginning his lecture, Mr. Taft
took natural sized modelling bust
and expla ined how it is constructed,
for he said, Il never meet a splendid
audience like this where there are
so many little boys and girls crowding
about the front, without hoping that
some word of mine may influence
them to begin an artists career and
find themselves; and so | explain in
detail just how it is done
With a frame made of a straight
board for the base, pipe for the
neck and a hollow wooden box for the
head, covered with mostened clay,
Mr. Taft called his assistant, Leo
nardo Cornelle, and with a few swift
strokes of his pallet knife and few
dents with his thumb. the shapeless
mass of clay soon resembled the man.
Mr.. Taft then turned over the bust
to Mr. Cornelle ito finish as he said,
and while MI Taft was giving the rest
of his lecture, the skillful assistant
transformed his clay portrait into
beautiful girls head
Going into the construction of his
art, Mr.. Taft brought out a huge skull,
which he said was the foundation Of
understanding successful modelling,
explaining the wonderful mechanical
construction both Of the skull and the
muscles of the face, which, he said
were the parts Of the most efficient
machinery ever invented.
| During his lecture, Mr.. Taft ex-
planned in detail how plaster casts
We're made, both of bas-reliefs and of
rounded busts, but he advised any
boys and girls who might like to try
the simple process to experiment out
in the back yard instead of in the
house. for, he said many youthful
/ genius has been nipped in the bud by
a first false step.
One plaster cast which he had was
of little baby's head, and had been
the first attempt of Mr. Cornelle in
! sculpturing. said Mr.. Taft. Years ago,
in preparing for the Chicago Worlds
fair, when Mr.. Taft was in charge Of
the decorating, he heard of the boy
Leonardo Cornelle. who worked in the
coal mines at that time, but spent his
Sundays modelling, and so, becoming
! interested in the boy, Mr. Taft sent
| for him to come and help with the
! toughest labor.
! Only short time after he had been
, there, he went home to visit over the
weekend, but when he came back
he brought the modelled head of their
new baby, and at once he was recog-
nized as an artist and sculptor This
| head has been awarded a medal, but
even a higher tribute than a medal
has been paid to it, said Mr.. Taft, for
one day woman came into the room
whefe it was exhibited, thinking that
no one noticed, she picked up the little
head and nestled it in her arms
I'D give you a dollar for that
speech, sir said stopped. white
haired man Tuesday afternoon as he
armly shook hands with William Rain
ey Bennett after the lecture on THE
Man Who Can I've got son over
there myself, and I'll tell you that lee
TIVE meant LOT TO me-"