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SOCIETY GIRLS UNDRAPED. Artists’ Lovely Models From Fifth Ave nue Mansions. New York Journal, July 8. Had a patron of the fine arts, rejoicing in the acquaintance of Gotham’s talented artists, sauntered into the Yorkville Po lice Court yesterday morning he would have decided at once that they were hold ing a select convention. For among the artistic coterie present were John La Farge, his brother Christo pher, Miss Mary Tillinghast, Thomas A. Smith, the decorator; George Appleby and August St. Gaudens, artists, and Charles E. Appleby, George A. Chambers and Wil liam H. Smith, who are interested in the La Farge Decorative Company. The distinguished audience was brought together by the examination of John La Farge, on a charge of grand larceny. When Mr. La Farge sold all his models, com pleted and unfinished works to the Decora tive Company for $18,000 he declined to transfer certain photographs and sketches of models of Eden-like costume to the com pany, and for this refusal he was arrested. Many society bellef blessed with form of graceful contour and exquisite beauty had stood the trying ordeal of being photo graphed in the interest of art. From st@h lovely models did Mr. La Farge mould the beauteous Venus, the lovely Galatea, the ravishing Hebe and Psyche. The professional honor of the artist, he claims had been pledged that the eyes of ordinary mortals should not gaze on the prized collection. To support the plea of the defendant that all true artists of repute could not in honor dispose of his photographic models, August St. Gaudens, of No. 114 West Thirty-sixth street, was called as a wit ness. “I would not under any circumstances,’ asserted the artist-witness, “permit any but the or to view my photographs or sketches of non-professional models and much less would I allow them to pass out of my possession.” The conscientious St. Gaudens further declared that such an action on the part of any artist would be highly unprofes sional and would subject the thoughtless or unscrupulous offender to the scorn of all his brother-artists. Nor would he surrender, he said, such pictures unless he had agreed to do so, even he had executed artistic work for other persons from models furnished by them. “Are not the pictures of models for sale in art stores?” demanded Attorney Charles Brooke in his cross-examination. “Most assuredly, admitted the artist, “but they are photographs of stage beau ties or professional models only. No deal er would dare to offer for sale the photo graphs of many society ladies who have kindly, for the love of art, sat for us.”’ Disappointed in his cross-tire Attorney Brooke suspended his questions. David Johnson, whose studio is at No. 52 East Twenty-third street, was next call ed for the defence. Mr. Johnson, who had been in Mr. La Farge’s employ, stated that he knew the drawings included in the sale. None were from living models, but from laster casts, bronzes, prints and portraits. I had seen other photographs from living models, but these Mr. La Farge claimed as personal property. “Did you see the photographs from which Mr. La Farge modelled his figures ‘Need,’ ‘Sorrow’ and ‘Help’?”’ asked Mr. Brooke. “Yes, sir,’ responded the witness. ‘They were pictures of highly respectable ladies who had kindly volunteered to have their graceful forms sculptured.” When Mr. Brooke carefully drew forth a photograph and placed it before Justice Gorman, the reporters, witnesses and others interested crowded around the bar eager to catch a glimpse of the interesting picture. Several elegantly attired ladies, who were eagerly listening to the proceedings, blushed violently and then grew pale with fear and aprehension. “Great heavens! exclaimed a Lexington avenue belle, ‘if it should be my likeness I would die from shame!” One beautiful brunette who saw the pro ceedings hastily left the court room. “It has been claimed that most of the de fendant’s pictures were taken from ladies who consented to unveil all their graces of form,” explained Mr. Brooke. “I wish to show one of these photographs to prove that the subjects were not scantily draped.”’ “It is a shame to exhibit these pictures in court! ’ angrily cried ex-Judge Ditten hoefer, defendant's counsel. “It is a sacri lege and a sin.” One gentleman who caught a glimpse of the photograph turned his startled face away, ejaculating involuntarily: “Bless my soul! That beautiful young heiress! Well, what next?” “That young lady is the only daughter of a banker, whose palatial residence adorns Fifth avenue, near Forty-fifth street,” he said. “She has a figure that would rival the Venus de Medici.” Another photograph exhibited by Mr. Brooke was recognized as the likeness of a lustrous-eyed brunette whose parents are among the proudest residents of Madison avenue. The fair model was draped in the flowing costume of a Greek maiden, and on her left arm, which was nude to the shoulder, rested a lyre. * “We claim,” said Mr. Brooke, “that the pictures in Mr. La Farge’s possession are no more indelicate than this. Then the counsel reached over the bar to regain the picture, when the defendant, who had been quivering with anger, quick as a flash jumped forward and tried to wrest the prizes from him. as are mine! ’ exclaimed the excited artist, ‘and, by the eternal, I'm not going to have professional secrets paraded before the public!” “Mr. Brookes has not offered these pictures in evidence,”’ interrupted Justice Gorman. *‘They are in his possession, and you must not try to get them by force.” The defense asked that the pictures be placed in evidence, but this the prosecution declined to do. The case was continued to next Tuesday at 2v.m. Miss Tillinghast, who expected to testify for the defence, was not placed on the stand, ex-Judge Dittenhoefer desir ing to first examine the papers in the suit brought yesterday by the La Farga brothers, Miss Tillinghast and Charles E. Appleby against the company for $3,600. 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Newspaper Details
Butte Daily Miner
Butte, Montana, US
Thu, Jul 16, 1885
Page 3
Full Page
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USA 10 May 2026
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