New-York tribune., 1902-12-08
STREETSIGNEYHLB
Paris Display Which Brings Af
From the Studio to the Street.
Paris, November "a.

snow. winch was organized pS EuONeAIo
under the auspices of NJ. Lepine, Prefect OF
Police, undertaken with the object OF I'M
proving the appearance of the Paris streets ana
inducing shopkeepers to employ artists or art
students to design their signs instead OF orul-
nary house painters There are two hundred
signs on exhibition. Some of them are in pflsht
colors others are in forged iron, wood, glass or
bronze, and goodly number are perfect Httle
gems DetafIIe sends an amusing sign for
we'll known millinery establishment. 1t Is
little. merry faced cupid with broad, unfolded
wings, attired in a cuirassier uniform OF tne
time of Louis XIV. The cupid is seated on
halustrade amid a profusion of deiicately toned
chrysanthemums; and here the eminent painter
is guilty. Of an anachronisn for the typical
flower Of Japan was in the time of Louis XIV
unknown in France.
Gero1ne perpetuates a pardonable pun by his
amazing sign for the shop Of an opticlan Ihe
French word optician being printed 20 PIT cien'
meaning "Oh. the little dog" The familiar
double eyeglasses with human eyes surmounts
a sprightIy Yorkshire terrier seated on its
hind legs wearing a single eyeglass. 1t Is
Gsr6nle in his nerriest and most congenial mood
wilette, the caricaturist, exhibits a number OF
signs executed for prominent Partisan estab-
ishments. One of these is for a wine merchant
named Lempereur, whose shop bears the title:
ITO the Memory Of Bonaparte." The COM
n1ander of the Army of Italy is represented on
his white charger at the head of regiment OF
grenadiers perched behind the generats sadie
is nude Goddess of Victory, with outstretched
wings. II is a supple page Of the Napoleonic
legend gracefully drawn and painted. Willettes
design for a millinery shop called Henry Ia
Pensee' is in stained glass. It represents a
dencateIy formed blond girl with intensely blue
eyes. Behind the head. six large petals OF a
10 va X
ground.
Another signboard painted by Wilette is for
an antique and religious bookstore at the
ner of the Rue de Beaune and the Quai Voltaire,
known as "A rimaige de Notre Dame" The
sign is executed on large parchment cover OF
a medieval choristers lectern. with the choral
notes in black with richly coored and illuH1i-
mated ornamentations. In the centre is beau
tiful image of the Virgin holding the Infant
Christ. It is a singular coincidence that this
reverentiaI symbol is destined to swing in the
air exactly opposite TO the house in which
the irreverent Voltaire died Perhaps the most
captivating piece of work in the exhibition Is
small signboard painted by Willette for a shop
where objects of art and bric-a-brac are re-
paired. Father Time" with long, snowy beard
and scythe. and quite nude, save his large
spectacles. which are thrown back over his
forehead is seated before bench examining a
pretty little object Of art in the form OF heart
brought to him by sad but beautiful woman.
Don't touch 1t; IL ia broken!" exclafms the
woman. NO; it is only cracked replies the
venerable repairer Of bric-a-brac; have
,atiArce and you viii find that Time can mend
all things"
Tattegrain has contributed to the show a sign
for an inn near Berck-surMer, and also ore for
vendor Of hygenic beverages, representing a
drunken man leaning over a bar drinking ab-
sinthe while a swarm Of red. sinister deViis
| beckons him toward a deaths head-a concep-
tion in Tattegrains most lugubrious vein. IN
a far nerrier mood the midwife signs exc
| o,+ed in tovful tints with enamelled illumina-
! .,one bv Nercier and Cleret. The former artist
| baa undertaken the renaissance or the huhple
! cahbage which in Gallic folklore was the SYM
| boI IF childbirth. a beautiful gyratlns stalh'
! baarine three cabbages, surmounteo oy anotner
! ta+ier stalk is wrought in forged ana nam
| r7ered iron. From each cabbage er1erges tiny
! ;nfa,+ scarcely an hour old From the taller
! a+ork emerge a pair Of maternal or surgical
! hands extended toward baby whose neao IL
| ,aenine forth from a fine cabbage as from
b-reaus Truchet exhibits a sign for corset
! maker It is entitled: "A tous les saints
rseins," All the saints are seated IN the Top
| o,enine of a pearl colored corset. fehea'n 10
tho inscription: Il restrain the strong anu I'M
ra+,,ous 7 support the feeble and bring oach
! those who would go astray 1t Is clete' va -
| <c1y in bright harmonious colors
! Moraau-vauthier has made spirited oa'S-
relief sign in plaster for shop where autoiiio-
- s,ociaI+ies are sold. The chauHeur. or
r,o+orrnan in the full hideousness OF MS soe'-
s1,in roat mask and goggles. Is leaning lo' Wa1u u
as if going at full speed, while replica OF 'i'e
famous Partisan women Of the WorIds r ar oi
1000 is crossing the street and appears aoout
| :. be crushed by the flying demon Moreau-
vautbIer has also completed for the Faia'S ue
CIace. or Paris Skating Rink, sign consis'ihs
| of two 1.-THE, graceful women IN the a''i'" -
| skating the Dutch roll
| There is a strongly drawn sign for d reslau-
rant bar near the Avenue de rOpera. IL IS
! ain4oa NV c,16re+ and entitled "A la halle
forcs., f.eThe compulsory stop0. A policeman Is
| ,o-+ravps with outstretched arm, holding the
! familiar white club, which is the signal In the
streets of Paris for the stoppage of all FehlcIeS
| Another restaurant sign, painted hy Aoei
rrruchet for the tavern called AN fin gourmet
| &c bung from a huge roasting iron Ten 1at
! geeea stand with hieratic equanimity near a
! sancepan Two of the geese look with t"lsted
neckg at the contents of the saucepan
! "a rzcr6visse' (''The fresh water crayhsh'D IS
y fantastic sign in brilliant coIors painted by
/ ,5,-cbant II is executed on a large block Of
! porcelain There is a profuse border OF pars-
| lev, surrounding a pile of boiled fresh water
! o,avf1sh whose vermiion tones contrast finely
with the green watercresses and the dehcate
/ ,-raxs of the background In the middle or the
/ sign Is a loving couple pledging health IN am
her gla ssfuls OF Chablis poured from veneraple
! and encrusted bottle There are dozen or more
signs for rniIlIners, flower shops, pastry cooks
/ and perfuIners. The show is a popular one
and the public throng to see it.
The painters and sculptnrs welcome 1t as
! Sfe rd