The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-29
THE UPHOLSTERY OF ART.
Realism Run Mad in the Matter Of
Framing Etchings.

From the NetC York Mail and Express.
Lovers.of art have watched with growing
horror the progress of the picture trainers
.o-called art. The thing is to make the
frame in consonance with the picture, and
llis has been carried to pitch of realism
1t which artists stand aghast. Some of
idis upholstery of art is "shoppy" to the
asst degree.
A fine etching of Millet's "Angelus," for
Instance, is framed III a broad band of
hcstlut, shady in dusky tints, with an old
bell, from which hangs a coil of rope,
carved on one side and a flight of bats
.preading their wings on the other. Jules
b eions "Winnowing the GRAIN" has like
and of chestnut, with the scythe and rake
In dull silver crossed above the head of the
bling woman. A panel OF Landseer's
iJgs. framed in oak for the hall, has a
VII p trailing its length across the top of
he wood; and silver chain and paddock
fastened from corner to corner below.
Cooman's Laughter" shows a girl with
her head ON a pillow. As framed and
exhibited recent copy carries out the
IDEAS by enameling the wood, picking it
but in silver and gold, and making it appar
entity continuation of the damsers lace
cushion.
Carved frames and enameled frames are
Is done upon shaded chestnut in white and
gold, pale blue and pink to suit Pompadour
rooms Sometimes it is picked out in
metallic tones by hand. A water-color ma
tine view has an enameled frame in whit
lSh green tints suggesting sea
foam. Across one corneris stretched
= piece of net and in the net strug
tiles fish with iridescent scales. Other
marine pictures have cable cord stretched
about the frame, or oars, harpoons and
anchors applied in dull silver Maiden's
heads are framed enamel done to represent
soft-hued silk folds.
The carved frames are more elaborate.
The carving is done in intaglio and is some
times darkened, giving the effect almost OF
n burned wood sketch done on the frame. A
genre picture of frog concert has tracery
of carving on its wide, fat frame showing
water weeds, lily pads and notes OF the ba-
trachian music. Harvesters at work In the
fields have carved frames showing heads OF
grain.
But the most radical Of all steps is taken
when the carved frame not only echoes, but
actually continues the picture. This is
most easily possible with the yellow-brown
tones of a photogravure. A landscape scene
shows you a farmhouse in the distance
country lane, q plowed field. The lane
runs directly toward you, projects on tae
Crane and is carved without a break. The
burrows of the plowed ground do the
same. The farm ouse itself encroaches on
the wood. and the fence at its side and the
trees which overhang it are wholly carved.
% with an old boat which peasant woman
Is pulling. The bow is photogravure, the
stern is carving. The waves are half OF
them carved. The woman's right oar begins
IN the picture, but its blade is carved on the
frame.
OF the nature of bric-a-brac fancies are
the cases in which the picture is finished on
The frame in silver. A lions head is shown
IN cage. The bars are of oxidized silver,
and they are set in the frame above and
below. A flock Of birds are perched on
telegraph wire. The poles are Of silver, one
on each side of the frame. This liberty is
taken with etchings, which submit with
Patience TO the treatment Silver is also
used for lettering, on otherwise plain, fiat
chestnut or oak frames, the name of picture,
artist or etcher.