New-York tribune., 1901-12-02
PICTURES ON VIEW,
ONE THOUSAND REPRODUCTIONS OF
PAINTINGS To BE EXHIBITED
AT TEACHERS COLLEGE.

All persons who are in any way associated with
educational work viii be interested in the exhibit
tien that opens to-day at the Educational Museum.
Teachers College Columbia University. 1t includes
about thousand reproductions OF high class
paintings. selected by Oscar L. Woerner, with spe-
eal reference their suitability for school decora-
ton.
Air. Woerner has arranged collections for schools
all over the State among others Inc State Normal
School, at Albany, and Nassar College.
Since the movement for appropriate and educa-
tional decoration Of public SCHOOLS. started in Mas
sachusetts some years ago." said Mt. Woerner to a
Tribune reporter, 1t has extended in some degree
al o@er the country. NewYork is far behind some
other cities, especially Chicago, but to be
awakening sense Of the great advantage Of
this means Of education
In making these collections grade the pictures
from those that viii appeal to the primary de-
partment up TO the college upper classes. If we
are 70 have improved architecture, better interior
decoration. finer appreciation for the best in art,
taste for The best must be cultivated so only the
absolutely good should be represented in the
schools. Nothing should be merely pretty but
must be both pretty and artistic, for the
youngest children. What could appeal more TO
them than Of Landseer's animals? And have
you not mere babies of three years fascinated
by Eeynclds's 'Cherub Choir, the Greuze Boy
With Apple the Botticeli Madonnas?
The wonderful growth in photography and pro-
work has made the best work of nearly all
artists accessible 70 all schools. as the prices are
low, and thus children may be trained TO
develop America public taste that shall create
in art
The historical method seems to me the best. An
indiscrimnate hanging, side by side, of all sorts
Q: pictures and all periods and schools Of art will
not give the best development and appreciagon,
after the primary period is passed. Young children
viii be attracted by pictures of animals, babies and
children play. A year two later Landscapes
with cattle or houses please them. After a while
they enjoy figure pictures-pictures with story.
Then comes the time when il is advisable to group
pictures OF single period, showing its rise and de-
veopment Most children have keen sense Of the
relations of things that is capable of being trained
into valuable faculty. The teacher can
awaken their interest by pointing out the points OF
resemblance between artists Of the same school
and asking them to note the points of diHerence.
History may be made more interesting by having
good collection Of historical pictures on the walls
Psip " OF Spain becames a being of flesh and
oloeo ink and paper when his portrait by
Nelasqcez looks the student from beside his
oesk English history takes a new interest when
Van Dycks Charles I is near.
The best publishers represented In the coilec-
nor and all the pictures are suitably framed and
grouped. The exhibition will be open from 9 a m.
fos p m. during the week, closing Friday. A gen
ea invitation is extended to all teachers in public
ana private schools throughout the city.