Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-04

Hanging and Framing Plctu res.
From the Art Amateur.
When apartments are devoted entirely to the
exhibition of pictures two or three large works
may be placed. as in the picture gallery Of the
Vatican, in one small room; but In private
houses, and for domestic decoration, they
should always have relation to the dimensions
OF the chamber in which they are hung. As
large pictures always apparently diminish the
size OF small apartment, smaller easel and cabi-
net pictures have been with good taste prefer
red for contracted interiors In the SPACIOUS
entrance halls and corridors of country man
slOns. large hunting and sporting subjects and
whole-length portraits are appropriately placed
III dining-rooms, also, from the more massive
ana simple character of the furniture a few
liie.slzed portraits. together with, of course.
subjects OF cheerful and festive character, are
admissible. In all cases, the juxtapOsitiOn of
Oil pictures, water-eolor paintings. and engray-
ihgs should be avoided; as they greatly inj,ire
each others effect For the drawing-room. sub
Jects OF refined and elegant character would
naturally be chosen; and water-colOr drawings
would form fitting decoration for a boudo;r or
an inner drawing-room; while framed prints
might be reserved for sleeping apartments.
we see no reason, however, why the possessor
OF pictures, who has separate apartment for
MS books, and conservatory for his flowers,
u q
nght for the proper display of his pictures. At
all events. due attention should be paid to the
hanging OF pictures. The paper of the wall
against which pictures are suspended should
have no strongly-defincd pattern. and should
be one of uniform color (red inc!ining to Grim
son. or tea-green, are the best colors) and if
borders are introduced they should not con-
tain flowers. Bright carpets and all paudv
colors are likewise Injurious.
Asa general rule, the center of the picture
should not be much above the level OF the
eye. In an exhibition the pictures in this most
favorable situation are said to be on the cline -
III the work be landscape or portrait with
background, the horizontal line will require to
be SO placed. The artist. be it remembered.
when painting his picture fixes this line Cat least
Theoretically on level with his eye-in fact
the two things, the horizontal line and the level
Oh the eye. are Identical, and he paints accord
lngly. If the spectator, therefore, does not re-
gard the picture from the same relative position.
much of the work will be foreshortened. and the
general effect consequently falsified Paintings
on ceilings are. of course not subject to these
conditions. though they often show very ar
bltrary use of the horizontal line. Hanging pic
lures low has the additional recommendation of
increasing the apparent height of an apartment
IN viewing pictures, the proper focal distance,
determined by their size and style, should be OBJ
served.
The extension and repetition of form so con-
ducive to harmony is taken advantage of in the
boundary-line; thus the head Of child, or a
group. consisting of an assemblage OF curved
lines. reaches the eye more agreeably through a
circular frame; so likewise with the repetitions
OF form in the square or ObiOng aperture
Frames should harmonic in style with the
other ornaments of the apartment. particularly
the mOuldingS and cOrnces Frames which
project much appear to contract room Mas
slVe frames convey painful impression of slls-
pended weight; but this is partly obviated by
open work" patterns. In apartments with la
teral light. the pictures should never slant as if
topping over. Pictures should not be sus-
pended from one nail: the diagonal lines formed
by the cord have a very discordant effect Two
nails and two vertical cords, or, what is far more
safe, pieces of wire cordage. should always be
employed instead of the single cord.
For Water-cOlOr paintingsit is especially i'm
portant that the frames should not be heavy or
TOO prOfusely Ornamented. A massive frame
Will almost destroy the effect of delicate work
in water cOlors. Furnishing small points of the
frame is, however, from the greater vivacity of
Water-cOlOrs less Objectionable than when the
frame is intended to inclose an oil picture The
glass OF the frame should not touch the face Of
the painting. The mount" or margin inter-
vening between the watercolor painting and
Its frame, is almost invariably white; though it
be tinted. especially if the painting is merely Il
vignette. For all delicate work light in tone a
papermOunt is preferabie and. for such, simple
gold-bead frame with a gold edge to the mount
next the picture is very suitable But more
powerfully and intensely -coOred water paint
ings, especially ifwarm in tone. might often be
rendered far more effective and harmonious by
substituting gold mount. In all cases. how
ever. we recommend to allow the artist to select
or advise the choice OF frame for his own work:
or to let him know if it is desired that the frame
for his picture should match others, in order
that he may paint with view to the influence
of the frame.
Pictures require light and air; the habit, there
n Ii.lfrr
during the many months that families are away
is very injurious. Washing pictures should be
undertaken on warm, dry day. and nothing
but clean cold water should be used. The sur
face should be wetted with sponge or soft
leather, but the water should never be allow ed
to float. and all moisture should be carefully re-
moved by gentle friction with an old silk hand
kerchief The backs of pictures should be fire.
quently cleaned. and it is desirable to protect
them with sheets of tinfoil or oil-skin. The re-
lining of pictures is often an excellent precaIl-
ton for their preservation. The operation of
transferring pictures from panel to canvas Is
too delicate and tedious to be undertaken eX-
cept for the most valuable works
A Rat in a Beer bottle.
From the Philadelphia Press.
A rat was recently caught by youthful
hunter of North Second street. who earns MANY
an honest penny by selling his prizes to Mr.
ellis, the serpent charmer. The latter fixed a
large box in sucn away that the animal could
not escape. aud putting Mrs. Rat inside, he car
ried her new abode down stairs The next
morning five little rodents were huddled at the
side OF their mother. couple Ofweeks passed.
and the captive family were ali in fourishing
condition. but one evening their owner noticed
that the mother had gnawed a small hole in the
side OF her prison, and on counting the progeny
he likewise perceived that one of the infants
had escaped. II nailed piece OF tin over the
hole" said Mr.. ellis. land was about leaving
the cellar when heard squeaking noise in
lot of empty beer bottles in corner of the Gel
lar, and saw in one my young rat. The little
fellow had jumped down the neck of the bottle
and couldn't climb out again. the sides being
too slippery, suppose Curious to see what
the mother would do, I placed the bottle con-
tanning the young 'un in the cage, in such a
way, however, that it could not be knocked
over.
Later in the evening went to see how
things were getting on, and found that several