New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-10
PICTURE HANGING AS AN ART
MEN WHO MAKE A BUSINESS OF IT
THEIR TRIALS AND THEIR
METHODS

METHODS.
The man who hangs pictures has come to be
necessary adjunct OF all we'll regulated art estab-
ishments but he is not always just what the
name would seem to imply He has passed from
a mere mechanical trade into what might be
called a profession, and the ability TO sound
wall or drive nail with precision Is a secondary
feature OF his calling The time has passed
when pictures are hung by rule and method.
each one many feet high and just so far from
it's neighbor.
Picture hanging nowadays is an art in itself,
and while 1t does not take rank with the actual
production Of works Of beauty, artists and con-
noisseurs know that inJudicious hanging will
spoil the effect OF work artstically conceived
and carried out. All Of the leading art firms are
now obliged TO have men in their employ who
can discriminate between the right and wrong in
picture hanging.
There was time when the women OF the
family hung the pictures Just as they did the
lace curtains, and just about the same Judg-
ment was used in the work. Gloomy landscapes
which needed all the light they could get to
bring out their tones and colors were hidden
away in dark corners where they appeared
Ike mere blotches Of Opaque Darkness. On the
other hand. dainty aQuarees would be placed
in such a position that the sunlight falling on
them exaggerated the thinness of their color and
in time robbed them of their best tnts. Pict-
ures with small figures and minute detail were
suspended the ceiling. and broad. free
paintings were placed in positions where they
had TO be looked at within a range Of a few
feet and all effect was lost.
THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY COMES IN.
Even when the man Of the family came IN to
Of STRUGGLING
with hammer and nails things were not much
| improved. Eight or ten hours In an office por-
| Ing over ledgers even clipping coupons does
| not necessarily heighten artistic perception
| The man. with mans conceit. thought II was
easy enough, Of course. and he made great
| show Of IT, but when all is said and done the
| result Of his work was not much better than
| his predecessors
To-day the practical housekeeper saves time
and trouble. and in the long run money, by call
! ing in the practical picture hanger. The fact
that he is a professional, however, does not re-
leve him Of the woes and trials incident to the
work Any man who has ever tried his hand at
IT knows that hanging a picture is not easy
TO the man on the ladder as TO the one who
stands below and gives directions. OF the pro-
fessional picture hanger more Is expected be-
cause he is q professional The husband or big
brother who goes up the ladder with his mouth
full Of nails and a hammer In his hand gets
certain amount Of sympathetic assistance. and
the members OF the family are ready to help
him in any way possible. from handing up the
big frame to lengthening or shortening the wire
at its back.
The wire is always too long or too short
Everybody who has ever struggled with
picture knows that, and the nail not infre-
quently has a bad way Of striking brick and
,,;.b al
the wallpaper when nails are used in the old
fashioned way.
The professional picture hanger knows that
ne can expect no assistance from the people Of
the household. In fact, he does not want any,
and a picture hangers idea Of heaven is place
where he will be allowed to do his work un-
hampered with outside suggestion and criticism
OF the latter there Is usually an abundance
He takes boy with him TO handle the heavy
frames and TO do the little Jobs incidental TO the
work because he does not expect any help from
the people Of the house.
SOME OF HIS TRIALS
The thing usually starts in well enough. Upon
arriving on the scene he Is frequently told 10 use
his own judgment, and he starts IN TO DO MS
hest The first picture Is in place, maybe the
SECOND and then that desire for interference
dear To the feminine heart. cannot be resisted
longer.
.Don't YOU think" is the way Il usually starts
don't you think that II would be better to
hang that over here and this over there
THO nicture hanger does not think so. and
no esvs So That is the beginning OF the trouble
We'll. this is my house. and want those
,ic,ures hung to suit myself and nobody else
e. the pleasant remark that sometimes follows
,Thsn The professional man comes down and
waits orders. Things go alons smoothly Tor
~ but by and by she begins to note the time
va remembers an engagement elsewhere From
a ar, Tine on the picture hanger enjoys compare
tin' - - In his work though IL often happens
Nv. Nv, he ia sent for the next day to change 1t
all about. 90 ,.rd 20 nieasa The nict
oo taer who has been at work for any length
of time that little dp9m NJ E % Gnas sa nN
lois VI nertain picture ought 70 be a foot or so
oWer he acquesees at once Then % Re as tns
picluls ,b ~ wire. He does not really change
the lenss he is artist enough to know that the
Ill. ,hAT III