The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-09-18
A Paris Exhibition.


A Paris correspondent says among
the few sources of amusement left us in
prospect during the next two months of
the dull season must assuredly be reck-
oned first the Exhibition OF Fine Arts
as applicable to manufacturers, which
is this year being organized on an IN
usual scale, and which promises also to
be of unusual interest, in the Palace of
Industry, in the Champs EIysees. Pre-
vious to the late war this exhibition had
begun to develop itself very successful
ly, and had annually attracted much
public attention, and drawn a consider
able influx of visitors, both from other
countries and the provinces. To the
latter especially it always proves a
source of great satisfaction and curiosi-
ty, both because it afforded an oppor-
tunity for provincial houses to exhibit
their specialties in the capital, and also
because it enables them to profit by the
occasion of studying the best samples
of Partisan art manufacture. Almost
all the specimens of new objects of dec
orative furniture and household orna-
mentation, SUCH as the substitution of
dyed pearwood Tor ebony, and the beau
tiful carving of which the former is
the introduction of French ea11GU1- cLOis-
o1anes in imitation OF the Chinese works
of the same character these, as we'll as
new art models for candelabras and
bronzes and castings of every descrip.
ton, have generally made their first
appearance and gained their earliest
notoriety and reputation at these yearly
exhibitions. They were, of course, dis
tho roor If tho on6 for
two years afterwards, and only made
their temperance in greatly diminish
ed form last year for the first time.
This year very successful effort, so
far, seems to be making to resuscitate
them ia their former brilliancy; and to
Americans coming over to Europe in the
fall they will be found, doubt not,
we'll worthy of a visit. Some hundreds
of workmen are at this moment employ
ed in the spacious frame and ground
plan of the palace in erecting the glass
cases and stalls for the reception of ar.
tistic specimens of various manufacture.
These very erections themselves are,
and are intended to be, models of taste
and utility for the purpose for which
they are to serve. They are in the high
est degree ornamental, as at present
establishment of the articles they are
made to contain. But the most strik-
ing object of all, perhaps, at the pres
ent moment in the place, is a gigantic
double staircase now in the course of
erection at one end of the nave, and
leading to the upper galleries. On this
staircase, which is to cost, it is said,
more than 10000 francs, are to be
ranged mass of drawing-roorn marbles,
statuettes, etc., by the chisels of the
best Partisan sculptors, interspersed
with vases and br07lzeS dart. The eff
feet promises to be really beautiful and
to make the staircase an exhibition in
itself. But it is far from being confined
to this use only, for it leads, as 1 have
already said, to the upper galleries,
where is being prepared an exhibition
of costumes of most varied and Gu
rious character. It is to consist, first,
of royal, pontifcal, military and civil,
and ancient theatrical costumes of all
nations and secondly, of such ancient
works of art, in the shape of statues,
paintings, frescoes, medallions, vases,
stuff, ETC., which shall best reproduce
and be an authority for such costumes.
And, lastly, in the grand gallery run
ming round the nave will be exposed the
principal drawings of all the schools of
design, both of Paris end the depart
ment. The installation of the exhibit
ton in the above locality by the Central
Society of Fine Arts will cost upwards
of 150 600 francs"