The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-06
Pictures
In the
Home,

A clever man once said. Let me see
the pictures on the wall OF a house and
1 can tell You all about the inmates
This may seem a sweeping statement.
but there is a good deal in IL To the
man or woman OF culture a bare wall
is infinitely more attractive than ons
that is covered by inferior, inartistic
pictures.
The woman OF taste will have few
pictures. but those hung on her walls
will be Of the hest-a well painted wa
ter color. done perhaps by a friend: n
proof etching. a pretty pastel. but new
er cheap imitation OF great work. or
anything OF the nature OF a chrome or
an i'll executed oil color.
There is a tremendous output OF
wretchedly executed oil pictures which
are gathered :nto the homes OF the vul-
gar rand theinartistic with no misSivings
These so called paintings are executed
by men OF more financial acuteneSs
than artistic power or sense and in
many cases are painted on canvases
as long as the room in which the en-
terprising young man works. in order
10 save time. The canvas is eventual
ly cut UP into pictures % OF the size
required by the dealer for whom they
are executed.
Families who cannot AFFORD good
paintings on the walls, yet who wish TO
brighten their apartments with plcto-
-ial effects OF some kind. can always
fall back upon the photograph or the
cheap artistic etching and feel that they
are not violating any law OF good taste.
Many people who have not been edu-
Gated artistically are in the position %
the little girl with a thirst for real
knowledge who said 70 her aunt when
she accompanied her to the dressmsk-
er's. "Aunty. is that picture on the wall
a pretty picture or an ugly picture 90
She had made SO many mistakes on
former occasions by expressing her ad-
miration and being told that the thing
she admired was an atrocity that she
had resolved 10 master the mystery OF
criticism.
Pictures sre good educators. Parents
are wise who. realizing this. place upon
their walls representations OF beautiful
things, thus insensibly educating the
taste and the moral sense Of the child.
A good rule in the selection OF pic
lures IL tndt the reStfuI scenes wear
best. Too much action in a picture is
likely to be tiresome and irritating TO
the oyertaxed mind and body. An etch-
ing OF placid pool. with heron per-
haps in the foreground and stately trees
in the near distance. would be more
conducive to rest and pleasure after a
firing day than a battle scene or a
wrestling bout. A water color Of a lit
tie Egyptian maiden, her water pot on
her head and her draperies In well con.
trasted colors. will be grateful 10 the
eye when the representation " chill
dren playing ball or a dog retrieving
a pheasant would be unrestful or dis
turbing. In most cases. too fhe ethical
sense Of the occupant should be & insult
ed in hanging pictures on his vail and
his favorite train OF thought catered TO
The religious man will be rested by a
Madonna" or a Good Shepherd" that
would only annoy the devotee OF Greek
art.
Avoid the garish and the glarinr in
pictures as in costumes. The not!cea-
BILE in both cases. always excepting the
great masterpieces Of art. is very rarely
the beautiful.