Inspiration of Washington Square (nickname of model Audrey Munson)
MacDougal Alley, in the area of Manhattan’s Washington Square North, was the home of many famous sculptors and artists in the early 1900s. Audrey Munson (1891-1996), a popular model, was called the “Venus of MacDougal Alley” and the “Inspiration of Washington Square.”
“‘VENUS OF McDOUGALL ALLEY,’ WHOSE BEAUTY IS EMBALMED IN A THOUSAND SCULPTURES” was printed in the Pittsburgh (PA) Gazette-Times on April 12, 1915. “KNOWN AS ‘VENUS OF MCDOUGAL ALLEY’” was printed in the Boston (MA) Sunday Globe on April 12, 1915. “So says Audrey Munson, girl model, otherwise known as the ‘Panama-Pacific Girl,’ the ‘Venus of McDougall Alley,’ and the ‘Inspiration of Washington Square,’ where many artists have their studios in New York City” was printed in the Boston (MA) Sunday Globe on December 26, 1915.
Wikipedia: MacDougal Street
MacDougal Street is a one-way street in the Greenwich Village and SoHo neighborhoods of Manhattan, New York City. The street is bounded on the south by Prince Street and on the north by West 8th Street; its numbering begins in the south. Between Waverly Place and West 3rd Street it carries the name Washington Square West and the numbering scheme changes, running north to south, beginning with #29 Washington Square West at Waverly Place and ending at #37 at West 3rd Street. Traffic on the street runs southbound (downtown).
MacDougal Street is named for Alexander McDougall, a merchant and Revolutionary War military leader. MacDougall is also the namesake of MacDougal Alley, a private cul-de-sac owned jointly by the residents of Washington Square North to its south and West 8th Street to its north, for whom it was created in 1833 for their stables. The Alley runs east off MacDougal Street in the block between West 8th Street and Waverly Place/Washington Square North.
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MacDougal Alley
. Jackson Pollock lived in apartment No. 9 in MacDougal Alley.
. The Czech-American sculptor Albin Polasek rented space at 9 MacDougal Alley from 1914 until 1916.
Wikipedia: Audrey Munson
Audrey Marie Munson (June 8, 1891 – February 20, 1996) was an American artist’s model and film actress, today considered “America’s First Supermodel.” In her time, she was variously known as “Miss Manhattan”, the “Panama–Pacific Girl”, the “Exposition Girl” and “American Venus.” She was the model or inspiration for more than twelve statues in New York City, and many others elsewhere.
Newspapers.com
9 August 1903, New-York (NY) Tribune, Illustrated Supplement, pg. 3, cols. 1-4:
THE ARTISTIC DENIZENS OF MACDOUGAL ALLEY WHO WANT IT RENAMED BOTTICELLI OR DONATELLO COURT
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10 February 1906. Kansas City (MO) Star, pg. 5, cols. 1-4:
ART IN MACDOUGALL ALLEY
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12 April 1915, Pittsburgh (PA) Gazette-Times, pg. 3, col. 2:
“VENUS OF McDOUGALL ALLEY,” WHOSE BEAUTY IS EMBALMED IN A THOUSAND SCULPTURES
Miss Audrey Munson, who had posed for half the statues now on view at the San Francisco Exposition, and one of the sculpted figures for which she posed. McDougall alley is the working place of many of New York’s most noted sculptors and Miss Munson is one of their most popular models.
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13 April 1915, Logan (UT) Republican, pg. 1, col. 3:
Miss Audrey Munson and Statue For Which She Posed.
Miss Audrey Munson, called by sculptors the “Venus of McDougall Alley,” posed for many of the beautiful statues now on view at the Panama-Pacific exposition. McDougall alley, New York city, is the working place of many of America’s foremost sculptors, with whom Miss Munson is a favorite model because of her beautiful face and perfect figure.
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25 April 1915, Boston (MA) Sunday Globe, Color and Magazine Section, pg. 12, col. 6:
KNOWN AS “VENUS OF MCDOUGAL ALLEY”
So perfect in face and figure is Miss Munson, pictured above, that she is referred to in New York’s famous art colony as the “Venus of McDougal Alley.” She is one of its favorite models and has posed for more than half of the female statues now exhibited at the San Francisco Exposition.
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26 December 1915, Boston (MA) Sunday Globe, pg. 48, col. 4:
WOMEN CAN’T BE BOTH ATHLETIC AND BEAUTIFUL
Audrey Munson, a Model Famed Among Artists, Says That the Natural Beauty of the Form Is Spoiled by the Overdevelopment Caused by Athletic Sports.
“GIRLS, you may be beautiful and not know it!”
So says Audrey Munson, girl model, otherwise known as the “Panama-Pacific Girl,” the “Venus of McDougall Alley,” and the “Inspiration of Washington Square,” where many artists have their studios in New York City.
Newspapers.com
2 January 1916, St. Louis (MO) Post-Dispatch, Sunday Magazine, pg. 14, col. 1:
Why You Can’t Be Both Athletic and Beautiful
Audrey Munson, “Venus of McDougall Alley” and Herself a Famous Model, Says That Athletics Overdevelop the Muscles, Destroying the Natural Beauty of the Form.
“GIRLS, you may be beautiful and not know it!”
So says Audrey Munson, girl model, otherwise known as the “Panama-Pacific Girl,” the “Venus of McDougall Alley,” and the “Inspiration of Washington Square,” where many artists have their studios in New York City.