Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-12-29
ELABORATE SCENERY
SCENE PAINTER AND STAGE
CARPENTER AT WORK.
CHARMING Scenes which ON Close In
speetlon Look Like Mere paahs--rhe
Tools OF the scene Painter Modern
scenery Not Infiammable.

Dainted as 10 Dest ucCtLNH tuc W. ~
The person i'm the audience, and IN AID
of this deceit everything about the
stage and even the stage itself are
built and made. Upon inspection Il
will be noticed that the boards OF
theatrical stage slope upwards as they
recede TO the rear wall OF the theater
and the whole perspective OF a scene
is arranged upon scale OF this ascent
in order that the impression TO the BE-
holder will appear to be correct. But
it is all an illusion. as is almost every
thing about the theater back Of the
..rag, as the curtain is called by the
profession
In the time OF Shakespeare scenery
was unknown. and costumes, or what
we now call costumes, were unheard
Of From that time TO this the dresses
of actors have become more and more
real and the properties natural pro
auctions. There was time when a
fireplace, q door, mirror, maptel-
piece, library. aud 50 ou to the end
OF the chapter, were simply painted
upon the scenery and not long ago
either Up 10 few years ago foun-
tain waterfall ocean waves, trees,
shrubbery, grsas, and almost every
thing else Of this nature essential 10
the play, we're painted upon a HAT back
ground with fine artistic effect, 70
b. sure, but considerable distance
was requisite to lend naturalness to
the view. Still, they answered the
purposes for which they were intended
in a way. Now il Is different Trees
are made by carpenter and property
man. with the Indispensable aid ~ tho
painter. al natural IS life and cut out
throughout. leaves, branches ami all
real water is used for fountains and
waterfalls, often the ocean or river on
the stage l. real water grass Il rep.
resented BY gra.s-greeu mats; snow
dcscends from the lie. and borders
ia the shape 81 paper and cotton bat.
ting but as natural a. can b., and
realistic scenes are nov given, where,
not long ago, art was employed alone
70 deceive the cye and answer the
purpose.
The artist i always striving 70 get
something new ia form as well a. Ia
decoration. Now II Il not an unusual
thing to prepare model Of each
scene demanding any elaboration OF
such a. must b. historically corr Get.
while more care and thought Il ex-
pended upon theatrical scenes. ana
our artists take more pride Ia the cor
rectness Of scenes painted by them
than the audience generally suppose
These models are made IN conformity
with the "scene plot" given by the
stage manager to the artist Ii II
painted IN exact miniature Of the III.
tended scene. II il all worked out
with careful reference 10 the cxigGn.
ctes Of the exits ami entrances. ana
when the model il approved the stage
carpenter can work from ii. a. Il n
made 70 scale In getting ready Ma
frame, which the property man covers.
as a general thing with canvas and
sends up 70 the painters bridge.
The paint bridge Il so-called ~.
cause it bridges the back Of the stage
from fly to fly and Il the suspended
platform upon which the scenic artist.
stand while painting drop. Hat. wing
or border, each of which. NJ times. Il
fastened to the "paint frame. made
OF iron and suspended by ropes against
the back wall OF the theater. 70 a. 10
be raised and lowered to suit the con-
venience and requirements ot the
painters.
II you never examined the stage
scenery az close range that II 10 AZ.
upon the stage and within few feet
Of the canvas you would b. as-
tonished. should you have the oppor-
tunity Of doing 80, at its appearance.
says the Philadelphia Times. These
scenes are. almost entirely. daubs NJ
close sight, but may be perfect and
handsome at the average distance
from which they are expected TO 10
seen. Let me tell you something
about them: The best material for
painting upon Is close linen canvas
and no really trst-class work can ~
done upon other material. After Inc
work Of the carpenter and tho IRON
erty man Is done the painter puts 4
printing coat upon the canvas and
when properly dry begins bis work.
Scene painting Is the most peculiar
part Of the art. The real secret ~
scene painting is to get the greatest
possible eti set with the least possible
work. Experience Is the only teacher
The best scenic artists will tell von
that an ordinary artist who painted
scene for the first time would mi n
ten times as much detail and care as
IS necessary, while his finished work
would not appear nearly az well a. the
freer, holder handling Of an inferior
painter. Stage landscape work II
simply impressions carried to Tho bigh.
est point. Yet, when IL comes 81
architectural and perspective work
you may be sure the artist must sbnv
his art TO its fullest extent. In ucb
work the scenic artist works BY accur.
ate measurements and gets all the Nor.
spective lines with string cover.d
with chalk, which is held in reouirod
position and snapped against the can
vas, leaving a white line. which "a snI.
ilciently observable to be- a t,uido