International studio (81.1925)

mceRriAcionAL

THE BIRTH OF THE CHILD BY MARIO TOPPI

apparently without effort. It is related that his one evening shortly after the New York entre-

initial cue came from an artist at work in some preneur's arrival. A bundle of carelessly rolled-up

corner of the town. Standing alongside in the lithographic papers of a cheap variety on which

typical mood of the street-corner critic, Toppi were a series of pencilings slightly reinforced with

took exception to the painter's sense of proportion washes of color and accented with touches of vari-

at some especially difficult point. Much intrigued, colored crayons was quite casually produced from

the artict challenged this untrained and pre- an old leather trunk in the attic, and the drawings

sumptuous fellow to arm himself with the neces- offered for the distinguished foreigner's inspection,

sary materials and accompany him to a nearby At once the collector was convinced that here was

goatshed where they might in all seriousness an art clear, continent and thoroughly consistent,

determine who could make the better drawing of To him these drawings appeared so complete in

a goat. Toppi emerged from the shed with a thought and expression, so endued with purity of

drawing which was acclaimed the winner; and form and depth of sentiment that he decided on

thus his artistic career, so humbly mangered, was the spot to acquire the lot. After negotiations

ushered in. were concluded and refreshments had been served,

Among those who elected the altitudes of the young artist quietly intimated that a tip was

Anticoli for mid-season diversion was Maurice expected, which puzzled the art patron somewhat

Sterne, the American artist. He came upon some until he learned that all money went into the

of Toppi's drawings, recognized their character family till and that Mario was acting quite within

and furthered the discovery by one day bringing his rights and upon thoroughly good precedent.

Stephan Bourgeois, art dealer and patron of The tip was added and the dealer went home that

promising young modernists, to Anticoli to see night highly elated over his new discovery and the

for himself what had been unearthed upon its novelty of the whole proceeding. In the morning

rugged slopes. This important event took place a basket of fine Italian marrons was found on the

at the Toppi home, where Mario and quite a Bourgeois doorstep as a thank offering,

number of his fourteen brothers and sisters dwell, From here the tale of Mario Toppi jumps to

one eighty-two

june 1925