Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-12-29
ART HERE IN wheeling.
Some Random Ideas About Our Local
Talent.
This City Has Rather More Than
it's Share of Undoubted Genius,
and Has Done in the Past and is
Now Doing Some Entirely Cred
liable Work in Various Lines.

brush and pencil of the painter and the
genius of the china and glass decorator,
has long been known and conceded.
Work done here in these lines by our
home people has enjoyed a vide circu-
lation, and has provoked admiration
and approval in many parts of the coun-
try. yet Wheeling is possibly not IAN
art city, in the estimation Of anybody.
That We have among US undoubted and
diversified talent is a fact to be neither
disputed nor denied. The work here
done, both by professionals and anna
tours, speaks for itself, and much OF it
IS as good as is TO be found in any
American city of twice or three times
our size, while some is not TO be sur
passed anywhere by the efforts of any
except cOncededly great masters in some
especial lines. In designs in glassware
and china Wheeling has long held a
very high rank, and in the good old
days, when this was flint glass center,
Wheeling designs were second to none
in the world. That is now true OF her
china designs, and some, if not the
most, of the best things have been de-
signed by Wheeling people. Those who
may be moved TO say that such design
ing is not art must necessarily reverse
this conclusion upon second thought, for
it is not only art, but art of particular
ly high form, and 10 successfully COM
pete with the country and world in such
a matter is not a thing to be lightly
tossed aside. But it is of the local
worker with brush and pencil that we
propose 10 chiefly deal in this hasty
sketch.
The artists of Wheeling believe in
study, and her sons and daughters have
been and are at the present time stu
dents in some of the foremost art schools
of the country, and when they come
home they, with others in the city, are
not content to copy after the European
and try TO educate patrons and their
students to the belief that over there are
the most delightful canvass scenes in
nature, or, further, that modern art IS
unnatural and imaginative entirely; but
the artists of Wheeling are purely
Americans, and they find in this coun-
try scenes on every hand and in Ameri-
cans pure a noble field for their produc-
tons. Go to the private studio or see
the collections displayed in stores of
the different classes, talk with the ar
fists themselves, and those outside the
profession are at once convinced that art
and artists in Wheeling are uncom-
prom!singly American.
Photograph studies are much pat
ronized by Americans to-day, and that
is true Of this city, and the finish to
art in taking a good natural likeness
of the highest class and constant study
of such production by those of the pro-
fession. IS we'll known of this city
throughout the country and in parts of
the world where they have been re-
ceived.
The new features in this city in pho
Biography is the change from the use of
the glazed paper finish to that of the
dull, or mott" surface paper. This ma
terial the artists find makes the person
and subject more life like in the differ
ent pos.ngs, and is cheaper and sets
out the photo with better effect. In
the use of the light and chemical ma
ter:als, there is nothing new of import
ance except, perhaps, the better APP
pliance of the light to the negative in
such an improved way as will carry out
the natural life-like effect upon the per-
son. Artists state that their patrons
manifest great interest in their position
and posing at the sitting and that their
ambition is to have their likeness taken
with most natural effect nowadays.
People have changed the styles of
frames and surroundings for photos
within the last year or two. The oval
styles of frames and plain gilt ones are
those most used, while there is no end
to tasty designs of a cheaper and small
er character. which are much used in
the homes for the proper display of the
modern photos and groups.
China painting is much followed in
the city for private qualification and
sale. A number of classes are formed
for the purpose of its study under ex-
perienced teachers, and It is not alto
gether confined TO young women. Many
of matured years find time to indulge
in this class of art. China decorations
in the stores of Wheeling are almost
all the productions of local talent.
China decorating IS not so popular here
IN Wheeling, however, as in the East.
but interest in the same it is believed
will soon revive and original designs be
brought in use more than formerly.
The taste of people has so changed
that but little attention is now paid to
the art Of crayOn work. This has been
caused by reason Of the excellent class
of work which the photographers have
been able to accomplish in recent years
in styles and sizes. In former years
there was a large business almost en-
tirely in the hands of the crayon artist.
Sculpture, oil and water productions
are much priced by many in this city,
and there are many exclusive collections
in this class of art in the hands OF
private parties, but their study and
pursuit is perhaps not of this generation,
but rather rightly priced by all for its
history and the scenes and faces that
have been handed down from previous
generations.
Art needlework N the city of Wheel
ing, by reason Of the progress and life
which has been recently given to its
pursuit, occupies no second place with
the other schools Of art. It's origin in
the days Of Princess Louise and It's rise
and fall since then in all civilized ma
tons. abounds in rich historical feat
ures closely interviewer with great
events, scenes and occurrences in the
worlds history. 1t was very crude in
those early days. being mainly in worst
ed. but now it IS reduced to an art and is
carried into effect not only in the form
of flowers but under the modern styles
and patterns Of Deft, Empire, Roco.
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