West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-05-19
Oscar wild on American Art Bcoo-
ration.

|
MIR. Oscar Wilde gave his closing lee
turc at Wallacks Theatre, New York. on
Thursday afternoon of last week. Mr.
Wildo's lecture, though nominally on art
decoration, was in reality a statement OF
his views In regard TO American art deco
J ration. When he first lcctured In New
York, he said, he h,c seen only the DJric
porticos and Corinthian chimneys Of Fifth
avenue. Now that he had travelled
through the West, he had concluded that
we are wofully deficient in art decoration.
"rhe fault" he said, "does not lie Ina your
lack of interest In art, but In tho want of
art in your handicraftsmen. didn't think
there could be found 30 much ihai was uc-
ly-l speak now of the-simplc houses of
simple people. saw vulgar papers, badly
designed carpets, that old offender tho
horsehair sofa, the chandelier with it's lum-
py statucttes, and for the fire, not fire.
place, but tragic castiron stove, with
black roses and funereal urns.
81 believe the decay of decorative art In
this century ia due to the want of Joyous
colors and stately drapery in dress. Our
dress drives the painter back to this ro-
mantle ages-whercas ours should be n
romantic age-and almo at annihilates tho
sculptor. Indeed, when We see the pro-
ductions Of modern sculptors we wish wa
had dnnihilated sculpture completely.
For when we look mt the statues of our
departed statesmen In b ronze iiock coats
and double. bu,toned marble waistcoats we
feel as though we had added new horrors
To- death. Tho only well-dressed men |
saw In this country were nat tho dandies
ot Fifth avenue, but the miners In the
Rocky Mountains. Everything they wore
HAD natural sense of rightfulness.
"To remedy the lack OF art In handi-
craft you should have good school of
design in every city, and museum of dec
oratiye art attached to il. A good design
or must learn how TO see and think i'm
color. Your designers should be taught
In the school Of Whistler, which starts
with the key notes Of color. For here |
find want of scheme-even in the houses
of the wealthy only collection of incon-
gruous pretty things. Your decorative
art schools should teach simple, useful
things for simple people, instead of teach.
ing their scholars how to paint moonlights
on soup plates and eunsets on dinner
plates, Leave to the painter the art of
giving undylng beauty TO the beauty that
dies away and fades; the centre Of dish
should not fade away into the misty hol-
low Of distant hill.
cart does not depend on books, but on
the enjoyment OF nature. That depends
drst on healthy atmosphere. saw Gin.
| cinnati from distance wrapped In paFi
OF SCOT and smoke, aud l felt there was no
use OF school Of art there. Then, TOO, you
want healthy physique and ipd'vdualism.
If your sculptcrs want models. don't let
them go among the Idlers of Fifth avenue,
but to the docks. / noticed, too, an alb
sence of wood carving on your wooden
houses, which for the most part were
painted in most depressing colors. Your
jewelry, too, is coarse in conception and
design. The purpose of precious metal Is
not fulfilled when 1t Is turned into a yuI
| gar dollar. In your hoteb / was often
| Obliged to drink my morning chocolate
and evening coffee out Of cups an inch
and quarter thick, whereas In the house
where the Chinese nsvyies supped in San
Francisco my tea was served in most deli
cate china
''In every school would have q work
shop where children can be taught design
ing IN addition to the criminal calendar
called History. There is such a school la
Philadelphia, founded by my friend Mr.
Leland, and these br,ss shields Of simple
beauty. (holding up the shields on the
table, "were made by girl of 13; this
simple wooden bowl, that would gladden.
any kitchen, was made by a girl # 13.
and this tasteful design of water vessel
by girl OF 8. II you wish for art you
muri revolt against the luxury Of riches
/ and the tyranny Of materialism. Let
your arr be made by the hands Of your
people for your people,
Mr.. Wilde wss frequently intorrup,ed
/ by applause. AT the end Of the lecture
he was recalled. and young lady in one
o. the boxes threw him bouquet, which
he stopped to pick up, while his haIr
dropped over his heal like branches Of
the weeping willow.
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