Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-19
Hint. About Picture Hanging.


| From the Art Amateur.
The arrangement Of pictures symmetrically,
so as to produce a sort Of uniformity in size
and disposition Is always pleasing, as s all true
| symmetry. In small room the eye takes in
the whole Of the picture at a glance, and rests
| with content upon such disposition Of parts.
On the other hand, If the pictures are of all
sizes, and hung without any regard to thisprn-
clple, they look incongruous and anyhow, as if
| they were not worth the trouble Of arranging
properly. 1t is not always that our stock of
pictures will be sufficiently near in size to en-
| able us to distribute them equally. STILL II they
are judciousiy arranged, we may do away with
the objection in great measure. If 1t is en-
cravings alone we have to hang, it is an easy
matter to get them in pairs of uniform size.
with mixture of oil paintings and engravings
this cannot we'll be done. but with care and
| good taste even these may be so arranged that
| they Will not clash with one another.
| The practice OF hanging pictures so that they
shall project forward at their tops is a question
Of position as to light When the light falls full
upon picture, whether avarnished oil painting
or framed engraving or water-color. there is a
| glare or brightness which prevents the whole of
| the picture from being seen. This is a common
case, and the only means Of avoiding it is to let
the picture hang out from the top so that we
can see the whole Of it from any part of the room
without tins Objectionable light upon its surface.
This is effected by placing the rings Of the frame
| low enough down to cause the picture to have
the desired inclination. 1t is good plan when
| about hanging a room with pictures to make
| sketch of the proposed arrangement previous to
| commencing hanging. This saves much after
labor and vexation. The largest picture should
| always have central position, so that those of
! a less size and form can be symmetrcally
| grouped around it. The eye will be satisfied by
such an arrangement. The character and form
| of the frames is a very important factor in the
question. Engravings and water-celOr paintings
should always have broad margin to the mount
and q narrow light frame The margin serves
| to isolate the painting or engraving, and thus
enables us to see its beauties to much greater
advantage. This is more especially the case ii
the wall upon which they are hung has pattern
upon it. These frames should be alike in make
and breadth as far as possible.
Oil paintings require a different and much
| heavier frame than water-cOlOrs and engravings.
| The principal object in both cases is to display
the painting to the best advantage. The broad
margin does this with water-colors but the oil
| painting having no plain margin we must
depend upon the frame to effect its isolation.
| In our opinion great mistake is made in hay
| ing these frames too deliberately Ornamented
1t is not the frame we want to exhibit but the
| picture, therefore anything tending to lead the
eye from that is an error. The frame surround
| ing an oil painting should be broad and COM
fine the picture so that the eye takes in the
whole of it, without being confused or inter-
fered with by any external object.
In the hanging of pictures there are several
points necessary to be attended to in order that
| they may be safe and easily adjusted. picture
moulding firmly secured to the wall Just under
meath the cOrnce or frieZe, upon which hooks
| are made to slide along not only affords firm
support, but is an addition to the decoration Of
roOm This moulding may be made and fixed
| by any ordinary joiner, or may be bought at
most of the paper-hanging establishments. i'm
! gilt, black. or in various woods in combination
| with gilt beads. The hooks also may be pro-
cured from the same source. Brass rods have
been much used for hanging pictures from. but
| they are not so serviceable neat-lOOking as q
| picture moulding: they are also soon spoiled by
the action of the gas and moisture in the room.
which eats into and destroys the lacquer. They
are now but little used.
| Strong wire, cord or line. both "gold" and
''silver," is now made, OF different thicknesses
for hanging pictures and is admirably adapted
| for the purpose, being very thin. but capable OF
bearing great weights. All picture-cords OF
whatever kind should be as near the color of
| the wall upon which they are put as possible in
order to cause them to be but little seen. Too
many cords are always Objectionable. 1t is
better to hang the picture with straight cords
that is to loop the cord on to two hooks SO that
it shall be perpendicular at each side of the pic
| ture, and not Topped on to a single hook OF
nail. Wien one picture is hung beneath another
| the bottom one should be hung from the one
above and not from the top; we thus avoid null
| tiplying the cords, which is always objection
able. Pictures may also be hung without any
| through the rings at the back of the pic
ture. and looping this into nail or hook;
| neither cord nor hook will then be seen. When
! picture mouldings are not fixed strong nails
may be used having earthenware china or brass
| heads to them. These screw on to the head of
the nail, SO that the nail may be knocked into
| its place and the head screwed on afterward.
These are very neat and have a good appear
| ance, and always clean up well.
Pictures of all kinds should be kept free from
dust at the back, for where this accumulates in
jury is sure to result. To effect this two pieces
of CORK at the bottom edge of the frame will
keep the frame from the wall, relieve the pres
sure and allow the dust to great degree to
| fall down and be cleared away. Gold frames
should never be busted with anything but
feather brush, and when they become dirty ser
wants or inexperienced persons should not be
allowed to attempt to clean them, as they will
be sure to spoil them In cleaning the glass of
water-color paintings and engravings the great
est care should be used to avoid rubbing the
frames They never should be wetted with the
sponge or leather, or they will soon be spoiled.
Saturday Smiles.
1t is the father of twins who knows what it
is to be up all night with the boys.-Ne,o York