Evening star., 1896-08-22
ART IN THE CAMPAIGN
How Political Banners Are Painted to
Order.
Lightning Work by Brush SwingerA
Who Are Expert I'm This
Particular Line,

Already the campaign banner is swinging
mid-air across the avenues and adorn.ne
the various political headquarters Very
Few people, as they gaze on these works of
art have any idea OF their manufacture.
simply knowing that they appear after the
selection Of the candidates for presidential
honors and associating them with fire.
works brass bancs and oratory.
The making of campaign banners is, how
ever, an extensive business, several firms
devoting themselves exclusively TO their
manufacture. IL is true that banners are
sometimes gotten up by sign painters and
the small shops that spring up for the oc-
cas;on, but they are not to be class ed with
tne,o tne banners turned out by the regular fac
tories. A visit to one of these establish
ments reveals sone interesting facts
on the cheap banners only the names
ana sentiments of the candidates appear,
but the large and costly ones have the per-
traits OF both nominees painted in ovals.
separated by fanciful designs Shields
eagles and figures of Liberty are the most
popular The emblems are wonderfully ana
LearIuliy gotten up, the eagle performing
leats that would tax a contortion,st airiIv
balanced on a shield. his talons filed with
enormous bundles Of arrows. a pennant
expressing his political opinions floating
gracefully from his beak: or with a sbt.ld
suspended from his neck he takes his Wild
Hlsht across the rising sun. The Goddess
oi L"eiy ana other designs are executed
III an equally striking manner
Takes Three to Make IL.
The hrst-class campaign banner is the
proouct OF the combined efforts of three
n'en-the portrait painter the sign painter
ana the sailmaker. In making the banner
the work Is divided up. The painting
"hlch lis done on sized muslin. may be ac-
oomplished in two ways. If the man is an
expert, he takes a large circle of nas-o
beard, having the features cut out. and
traces the general outline and size of the
mead using a photograph TO finish the por-
trait from
But the usual method is by the use Of
stencils each stencil being for a different
Color The large pieces OF muslin tackled
80 VI. uoalos are ranged in row around the
toom' and men with pots of paint pass
from cne 10 the other with great rapidity
FAINTER No. ] lays in the hair. No . fol
iIWs with the flesh tint, No. 3 puts on the
the foundation is laid in for the artist
VINO comes along with his huge palette and
completes the portrait
Patriotic Sentiments.
Meanwhile, the sign painters perch he'd on
STOOLS and boxes. are putting on long strips
OF muslin The Peoples Choice" and other
equally hattering sentiments The sail
makers cut roll Of square meshed net in
70 the oinerent banner sizes, binding them
with thick rope covered with canvas.
NO stencils are used for the emhle-ns
they are spontaneous bursts OF The artist.
imagination. He can indulge his taste In
eagles as fierce and warlike as he p!eases
ana Liberties as defiant. This is NOT an
a banner once painted is not loss. even il
IL remains on the firms hands As tho
artist remarked, putting on or taking on
mustache or beard, rearranging hair an
extra touch OF fat or lean as the case re-
quires is a small matter, accomplished by
few strokes of the brush" The sign
painter Is equally handy at altering the po-
litical notices ~
Inc banner takes some days to dry, and
week to finish. section is placed paint
downward on the floor and the net nut over
It. The same design is arranged on ion
and the sailmaker, sitting on the floor
sailor fashion, sews il all together Then
the banner is ready to be raised with cheers
and a fare OF red fire