The Bohemian idea of the life model was of the submissive female, her naked image made immortal by the brush of the inevitably male artist. She would be vulnerable, beautiful, seductive - he would be a rugged genius, for whom she was just one of many muses. The idea has persisted. Although the truth today is somewhat different. Life modelling is now mainly for classes of artists, and there are many websites where those who are serious about it can register and find work. To be a good model is a skill. To find out what it takes, Lizz Pearson spoke to model and artist Cecilia Lundquist as she posed before a class of amateur artists, in a large studio in East London.
