The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-16
How to Make
1T Beautiful.
GOOD PICTURES.
~
Few Suggestions as to
] Effective Hanging.

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vantage, and artistic homes fall far
short Of it. Second only in Importance
to producing a picture is the fact that
when completed, 1t should be seen to
thelbest advantage on the wall where it
is placed. This to the casual observer,
may appear to be minor matter, but
when one considers the very large num-
Der Of paintings. both in private and
public galleries. which. if seen at all,
are only to be viewed under circum-
naught. one finds that some little ar
tistio knowledge is necessary in order
to place pictures where they are suit
ably lighted, fittingly backgrounded
and harmoniously surrounded.
1t Is not matter of expense, as
many suppose. Hundreds Of valuable
ana beautiful pictures hang unsuitably
in homes where money bristles out on
every side, and no one enjoys looking
at them because the light Is bad, the
wall paper glazing or the surroundings
detracting; or, perhaps, all three evils
exist and the place positively fortunes
one of sensitive tastes, and beside the
home which might be elegant beautiful
and artistic. is not so purely from lack
of knowledge. On the other hand, in
the home OF many a poor artist Of the
humblest means, there will be found
inexpensive but beautiful little sketch
es, sometimes unframed; but so placed
and surrounded that they delight the
senses. There is an impression in the
minds of the people at large that this
effect is secured by some subtle art,
some trick; but such is not the case.
1t comes purely and simply from the
observance Of a few simple laws in
harmony which any one may learn by
observing nature.
In houses Of the upper class the ar
rangement of pictures is often super
Vlsed by a decorator, who makes a
study OF the matter, and who is liber-
ally paid for his work. The result af-
ter such hands have taken hold is gen
orally effective but many of these dec
orators are deficient in knowledge con-
corning the keystone Of all real beauty
simplicity
1t is, however, in the homes Of the
masses that the Arrangement of the
home, particularly the pictures, Gull
inmates in a diabolical nightmare.
There Is no need to tell what causes
this. 1t is the same old story-a glar-
ing, dizzy wall, cheap paintings in
cheaper frames, paper flowers, "parlor
suites onyx stands, and the like, in
endless confusion and especial promin-
ence
The average idea Of beauty is some
thing SNOWY. Very few persons, Ia
reality, care for flashy wall paper. They
like the plain, soft harmonious tones
better, but 1t doesn't make SO much
show for the money. Personal van
ity is the real secret of the whole thing.
People do not do things to suit them
selves as much as to attract attention,
and to be in line with other people. Few
people really buy pictures because they
appeal to them, but mostly to make
the house look cheerful" and to cover
UP the abominable wall paper that rests
on the walls Of the "best ROOM
No home need be unartistic or un-
harmonious 1t costs no more to do
the right thing, If one only knows how.
Artistic, expressive and beautiful re-
productions can be secured at prices
lower than those paid for genuine oil
paintings" or the impossible land
seapes painted by the lightning ar
tist'; yet few people know this, or, If
they do, they do not take advantage of
it. Harmonious, low toned, restful wall
papers cost no more than the stuff with
outrageous designs, A cozy window
seat, with cushions, pillows, and q
book rack above it, is less expensive
than a cheap sofa. A neatly finished
floor, with good rugs, is not more ex-
pensive than q. cheap carpet. One may
20 down the whole line and the same
rule will apply.
The truth of the matter is, there Is
a popular demand for the snowy, and
this will continue until the influences
which are silently working-tfe art
education in the public school, the
school art leagues, the art museums
and the art schools-shall have begun
to bear fruit. From generation TO gen
Grafton will be handed down this love
for the simply beautiful and the quiet
lv harmonious, until the Giisagreeable
discords of today will disappear. Then,
unconscfausly, people VIII hang only
good pictures, and those properly, and
quiet. restful and artistic homes will
be the rule among both the rich and
the poors
People who kick. because school chill
dren are obliged to study color draw,
design and model clay, are invariably
those who have been tortured all their
lives by the unartistic and who have
NOT known IT, Not being able to appre-
ciste the beautiful, they cannot see
ANYTHING in the work the children are
doing. They call it trash and nom
sense.
They do not realize that the training
the children are receiving VIII uitl-
nnatelV produce all dTllSllS ciiAO etSStAASS-
Ic America. They cannot see that It
means better citizenship for they do
not know that the love for the bea9l-
NfI1l lifts one above vulgartty.
An elegant room may be beautiful,
h1t a beautiful room is not necessarily
alerant. In consequence, an artistic
roorn-one that gives restful pleasure
10 be in-need not contain great deal
paauty like religion, is within the
reach Of all, and the best thing about
II is that 1t costs nothing. All who seek
may find 1t.
Why does one find pleasure and COM
fort in the sitting-room of an old farm
house? Nearly every one would say,
the cheerful fireplace but the fact of
the matteris this: First of all, simplic-
Itv is everywhere. The rude chairs are
picturesque, and they LOOK as II th q,
were made for use. The design of the
wall paper that was once trying to
ID Ali sorts OF impossible things, has
heen eradicated by the smoke of years,
and it is perhaps dirty, but nevertfe-
less loW-toned and unobtrusive, fand
consequently restful. There are no
poor pictures on the walls to irrftate
and as one sits in the room he cannot
resist the feeling of contentment that
steals over him. How different it is
10 stem into the ''best roomp' Here the
wall paper is new and it glares out tri-
umphantIy. There are pictures galore
and thing UNI -jigs" in profusion.
There is q s'parlor suite" and a banquet
lamp. a plush rocker that dairly bowls,
and things to match generally The
city visitor shuns the best room" He
sits uncomfortable and feels restrained.
When in the house he Is always in the
eitting-roorn. When lie returns to the
city he wonders why he Is SO uneasy
in his own home Hesforgets that, in
reality, his sitting-roora, all his rooms,
in ,fact,sar much like the farmers par
loR IN one case poverty or neglect