The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1875-03-05
Framing Pictures.

A frame must invariably interfere
with the picturesque illusion intended
by the artist. All frames are nuisances
to the art of the painter. They tend tc
destroy the perspective, and confuse
the coloristic qualities of painting
Yet, in private houses, the artistic ef
feet of picture, though the most i'm.
portant, is not the sole consideration.
The part which paintings must take in
a house is that of decorative furniture
ornaments in a room which should be
considered in relation to the other arti-
cles of furniture should be made to set
them off, and should not inlure any
more than possible the artistic effect OF
the painting.
| The furniture in room should, like
the setting of gem, be made to en-
hance the proper purpose of the paint
lngs by not obstructing the light, and
by not disturbing the coloristic design
OF the painting by the juxtaposition of
the distracting colors.
The best way to look upon painting
lis from the dark, through a narrow
opening, in such a manner that all the
light is thrown upon the picture.
When painting is regarded merely
as an article of furniture it has the best
effects when inserted in the walls, as in
the Italian palace.
A gilt frame is good for oil paintings,
except when gliding or q warm atmos.
pheric effect or the light of torches or
artificial lights are represented. The
sheen Of the gliding serves to detaoh
the painting from the surrounding OBJ
iects, and allows the gaze to center upon:
the picture. Bronze, black, or dark
wood frames are suitable for the classes
above mentioned and for many kinds of
pictures, except when the browns and
shadows which are near the border may
be dulled.
Drawings, chrome Autographs, pho-
tographs and engravings might better
be framed in some natural wood thar
in gilt frames.
Oak or some light wood aecords welt
with such pictures. In water color and:
other color pictures the tone may be
heightened, and the prospective often
improved, by attention to the color OF
the frame or by the introduction of aIs
inner border of tinted paper.
Engravings, Autographs, and draw
ings, should never be hung upon tbs
same wall with oil paintings, for thss,
reason that their own effects are greatly
damaged from proximity to tue lights
and colored forms of the painting, ana
that they may distract tina attention.
from the composition of the painting.
Every painting that is worth hanging
at all deserves wall to itself. T;
Glazed pictures should never By
placed SO as to reflect the light, as they
cannot be seen in such q position With,
out a painful effort of vision. ii
Pic5ure-frames ought to be distirs.
guished in color from the remaining
furniture of room, since part of theSr
design is to isolate the pictures which i
they encase. For the same reason they
should not correspond too nearly ia
their decoration with the other objects
of the room. On the other hand, how.
ever, they should not be ont of harmony
with the predominating color of the
room, and might better harmonize in
tone than by contrast; neither should
their ornamentation be out of keeping
with the general style of decoration op-
served in the rest of the furniture.
Pictures of middle size should be
hung with their centers nearly level with
the observers eye. They should ha
hung fat against the wall and not as ia
often the case, tilted ont. When they
hang from the wall there is an unpleaiI
ant sense of insecurity and confusion
of lines, and the projection of shape-
less. shadows upon the neighboring WALL
They should also be secured By tive
cords suepending from two nails-heayy
cords for large pictures rather than th.D |
cords or wires, in order to preserve the
idea of security. Two parallel cords
hanging perpendicularly are in better
keeping with the parallel lines of tEse
room than the unpleasant, triangula-
form made by cord suspended by Il
single nail attached to the two sides BIZ
the picture frame. lill
Oil paintings in gilt frames have the |
best effect against hangings of olive |
gray, more or less deep, according to
the tone of the picture.
Pearl gray, or normal gray, itsle
deeper, is good tint to receive ener8y-
ings and plain Autographs in gilt or |
yellow wood frame. 4