Association of South Russian Artists

[Allena]

This refers to the proceedings between Joseph I. Mormone (see about him: Barkovskaya M. Afanasiev VA Association of South artists: Bibliographic Guide. Odessa, 2000. Pp. 179 - 180), Italian-born sculptor who taught the Odessa Art School, and artist Mikhail Isaakovich Solomon (see about him there. S. 276 - 277). During the heated discussion of the case in the local newspaper found that a complex relationship with Odessa Mormone press had a long prehistory, has its roots in the end of XIX century.
   The immediate reason for the court to appeal Mormone Solomon served on the newspaper report last XXI Exhibition Association of South artists, which saw Mormone libel libelous his professional honor. Solomon wrote that "the statues and figurines, the Mormone - solid academic articles in which there is no drop of art, no soul sculptor, cold, indifferent to all that he sculpts. And he sculpts for the mechanical process of modeling, which can be seen on his figure women (Eurydice, 183), the entire cast, as well as many of his other pieces directly from the model (see the hand of his large figures) "(Odessa News. 1910. No 8235. Oct. 9. S. 3).
   Mormone protest letter to the editor: "I blame the fact that creativity substitutes craft, molding itself to the model their works (form where you need to do.) If the charge referred only to me, I would have ignored it. Nature of my work can be set art jury and witnesses of my work, which I call by name. Here it comes, not only me, but also corporations, to which I belong, and I was obliged to require Mr. Solomon to answer. believe that by checking the validity of my words, the Solomon considers his moral duty to refuse to print cocked unfair accusations at me. If Mr. Solomon for 3 weeks will not give me an adequate response, I invited him to the court of honor. If Mr. Solomon refuses the court of honor, I'll be forced to resort to the Crown Court "(Odessa News. 1910. No 8242. October 17. S. 4).
   Solomon, in turn, responded to the call Mormone letter entitled "Forced response," in which, among other things, said: "First of all - I did not accuse Mr. Mormone in something reprehensible, being able to touch his honor and dignity, as a man, but by sincere conviction, as an artist and critics, his work on the creative process, which is located purely mechanical, because, according to the figures exposed them, find them to cast directly from the model (eg <Imer> statue of "Eurydice" and hands, "Potter" and some others). <...> G. Mormone apparently believe that they can change their views and beliefs on the resolution of the court of honor, if not the court of honor, as he threatened, the fear of the Crown Court , hook as easily as he changes his incisors pressure gravity clay. Oh, que non! .. <Oh, if so! - French.>

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And then, give Mr. Mormone prove the validity of his words what he pleases means, for its part, is ready to give an explanation of the persons whom he designates as from further controversy in the media refuse "(Odessa News. 1910. No 8254. Oct. 31 . S. 5).
   The following letter to the editor Mormone demanded Solomon in two weeks to name two competent persons on his part to create a court of honor to settle their dispute (see Odessa leaf. 1910. No 288. 15 December. S. 3). Since Solomon, obviously, did not react to the ultimatum Mormone, he filed for a complaint to court for libel.
   Bunin, of course, was well aware of this fact, since the trial, held on February 29, 1912 to a packed hall of the Odessa Regional Court, including witnesses and experts were close friends he faces - the artists V. X. Sause, PA Nilus and writer A. Fedorov. Heard the opinions of expert witnesses and that in relation to the sculpture Mormone "Eurydice", a model for which the artist to use his own wife can not speak of "molding" (ie close to the casting model, which is considered among the artists shameful way to work tantamount to plagiarism), as this sculpture was first izleplena, and only then is cast, the court accepted the plaintiff's argument, confirmed the defamatory article Solomon and sentenced him to two weeks in detention at the police for slander Mormone in print (see: The Case of the offended sculptor: District Court //South thought. 1912. No 151. March 1. S. 5; Mormone case with Solomon //Odessa leaf. 1912. No 50. March 1. S. 5).
   This incident, however, is not exhausted. Odessa newspaper "Southern Thought" made comments to the sentence, openly calling Mormone untalented plagiarist resorting to the criminal court to silence criticism of the free (see Kamyshnikov LM attack on freedom of criticism //South thought. 1912. No 151. March 1. S. 3). The next day, the first part of the questionnaire on the subject, which was attended by Ivan Bunin, S. and P. Yushkevich Nilus (see No 8 of this paper.) Mormone said another letter to the editor (South thought. 1912. No 153. March 3. S. 3), which justified their actions. Among other things, he expressed regret that Solomon did not agree to his proposal to refer to arbitration. Next to this letter was printed newspaper continued questionnaire in which the artist VA Izdebsky testified that he tried in vain to persuade Mormone to arbitration. Commenting on this statement Izdebsky, Chief Editor of "South of thought" LM Kamyshnikov Mormone openly accused of lying.
   A day later, "Southern Thought" published the last part of the questionnaire, which included articles and reprinting journalist "Odessa leaf" N. Moskvich (Muscovite HH modest speech: Sculptor recidivist //Odessa leaf. 1912. No 52. March 3. C. 2 , South thought. 1912. No 154. March 4. S. 4). N. Moskvich Mormone recalled how in 1897 he incriminate sculptor in that head of his statue of Tchaikovsky was a rip-off of I. Ya Ginzburg (see Moskvitch HH Lean speech //Odessa leaf. 1897. No 52. February 25. S. 3). Mormone justified if the following letter to a newspaper: "I'm amazed at the audacity with which, the Muscovite claims that I stole the head of the composer Tchaikovsky, a sculptor Ilya Yakovlevich Ginzburg. Vzvodimogo absurdity of the charges on me makes me think that Mr. Moskvich wrote the note, or not thinking that writing, or on the suggestion of my detractors. G. Moskvich offends me not only as an artist but as an honest man. validity of what I did not kidnap the head of Tchaikovsky in Gunzburg, as boldly expressed, the Moskvich can confirm versed in the art of people who have seen me figure sculpted by Tchaikovsky. these persons -'s. Kishinev and Bosco. If Mr. Moskvich not tell me in person or in writing, from whom he got the false information about me, I am forced to I will bring him to justice in order to protect themselves from undue harassment "(Novorossiysk telegraph. 1897. No 7063. February 28. S. 3, see also: Moskvich HH Obessatirennaya morality //Odessa leaf. 1897. No 56. March 1. C. 3; Moskvich HH Week //Odessa leaf. 1897. No 64. March 9. C. 2 - 3).
   After recalling that old stories Mormone had to send another letter to the editor "Odessa leaf" and "South of thought" and explain his actions of 15 years ago referring to his own immaturity and order character of that time. In this Mormone admitted that he had indeed "held nature of Tchaikovsky's head Gunzburg" (Mormone II Open Letter, the Moskvich //South thought. 1912. No 157. March 8. C. 5), which 1897, he denied it.
   After such public shame Mormone group of artists, among them friends Bunin P. Nilus, E. Bukovetsky, V. Kurowski, K. Constand, found it necessary to send a joint letter to the editorial board of the Odessa newspaper with the assurance that Mormone "and as an artist and as man lost in our eyes the respect he enjoyed as an artist and a person to this sad case "(South thought. 1912. No 161. March 13. S. 5, Odessa leaf. 1912. No 60. March 13. C . 6). Kamyshnikov in his commentary on this collective letter acknowledged that it was time to leave Mormone alone, but added that a joint letter of artists produces "extremely unpleasant impression of the party and the narrowness of sectarian intolerance of the printed word, to free critical thought" (L. Kamyshnikov Defenders M. //South thought. 1912. No 161. March 13. S. 5).
   Court case Mormone - Solomon lasted until 1914, when it was rejected by the Senate last appeal Mormone and found that the article was not wearing Solomon libelous (see: Art Criticism: Case I. Mormone and M. Solomon //Odessa News. 1912. No 8839. Oct. 4. S. 5, the sculptor and artist J. Mormone <nick> M. Solomon (Court <ebnaya> Chamber) //Odessa News. 1913. No 9139. Oct. 1. S. 7; Case I. Mormone with M. Solomon //Odessa leaf. 1914. No 33. February 5. S. 5).
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