New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-20


One is often surprised 10 ind advertisements Of
soap n gIartng colors hung the walls OF homes
where something much better could he afforded
Apparently intelligent people win tolerate the hang
ing OF discorGSnt cOngl0meraJion OF pictures in
the room. There is little enectual attempt 10
harmonic subjects and colors 10 the character Of
the room and its walls. There is little intelligent
OF space and arrangement TO secure the best
effect Fortunately, the increase in the number OF
young women who are attending high schools and
colleges Is likely TO have an improving effect IN
this respect The craving which is there incucated
IN them for more attractive surroundings is bound
10 have its effect on their homes. present and
future An indication OF the Importance which IS
being attached TO the Improvement OF taste IN in
terror decoration Is the publication Of booklet by
the Newark Free Public Library on the subject
n connection with exhibition Of pictures avail
able FOR use II decorating schoolrOoms and homes
held recently in the gallery OF the library. The
exhibition, which was arranged by John Cotton
Dana. the librarian and author Of the booklet, who
has been student OF the subject for fifteen years
intended 10 be an object lesson showing what
could be done in this respect with moderate means
and also 10 show how pictures should De treated as
regards frames and hanging 10 secure the most
artistic effect. Especial stress was laid on the
decorative quality. The booklet was intended not
only assist in understanding the exhibition but
be useful e guide IL decoration OF the homes
OF those who went TO see it.
That taste TO- better pictures his already begun
70 develop il sons parts OF the country among
wealth, Is demonstrated by the increase IN the
demand al stores for pictures which have story
10 tell
The manager OF the art department OF a big
store in Newark said the other day. when asked
Il he had observed change in this respect:
- find great change in taste Of late years
owing 10 the Influence Of the schools and school
teachers. The demand FOR reproductions Ct the old
masters has greatly increased. Nearly every day
teachers with children, and sometimes children
o n he mic
oren, even when UnaCComparied take a great in
terest II the reprodlscions Of well known pictures
they have seen At school AS they pass along, they
stop from time 10 time before these and talk about
them They seem 10 be pretty vel posted. Then
friends o. people who have been abroad and seen
pictures there come and buy reproductions Of some
picture which has been recommended 10 them by
these friends"
According 10 q seller Of pictures in one Of the
largest department stores il New-York, not only
IS the taste Of buyers improved. hut the makers
are recognizing the demand for better things, and
II the cheapest coIorei prints are showing better
taste IN the selection Of ther subjects for repro
ducton
There IS less demand for the narnby-Paunby sub
3ects than there used 70 be-" said this Ever
in the cheap grades Cf pictures Ike this line Of
Nthographs and prints. done by the three color
process which we sell for nine cents there are
pastoral scenes and figures instead OF the sickly.
sentimental things which Used TO be chosen for
this class. People are buying this sort Of thing
now instead Of the other. They are getting away
from the Mary had little lamb order OF sub
sect Better taste is shown in selecting the sub
:ect especially among the young people. who are
tannIartzng themselves with better pictures. This
Is partly due 70 the magazines and partly to the
schools Reproductions Of rhetorical buildings such
those on the AcropoLs 1t Athens. carbon re-
productions Of statues such the Venus de Milo
and the Winged Victory Of EamOJlrzCe and copies
q the different NadOuELas are called for. Repro
cHctons o. paintings by such FreHckEoeH as
Troyon and COrot are selling better than ever and
there is & demand for almost everything by Rem
brandt Articles IN magazines On the Madonnas
have done much for the development oc taste
Then the reproductions themselves are much better
made and cheaper than they were"
NJ Dana z few days ago illustrated in a room
the library in Newark some horrible examples
Of hanging pictures and OF placing casts, which are
found everywhere. He selected for the deHonstTa-
ton L portion Of the rough plastered wall OF
room lighted by two sets % Two windows each the
Light striking II from the right from one SET and
directly in front from the other. First ne hung
aEs pictures IN subject Characteristic Of many 10
be seen IN homes OF persons OF moderate ciEcIIh-
stances. One picture OF conventional
monument: TWO were OF groups Of ordinary LOOKING
CITY buildings; a fourth depicted Z geyser IN &C
hon ana the fifth, the largest Of the group camel
Caravan moving along the shore OF a lake beyond
which mountain rose The Tour sInalier ones
Te-e arranged around the largest one, All DelIs
hung with their shoulders out IN an Angular
NolF44tB laSLlCns Dy Jung WIS --S--" 49, $780,
mouldngs
FIRST, the pictures too small saic ny
Dana. criUcising the group. no matter how ihey
were arranged they would make five ostrac1lAg
f2ots- Next there too many. You could put TWO
Il that space and have them agreeable put Il
would be better to have one large one Ihen the
arrangement; Il IS commonly adopted II -
very oistTsc citing % the attention II would De more
ssresable 70 look at. II there were 10 be I'VE IN
The space 70 put them in q row. About the pict-
Tres themselves. they lack character They would
acc no note IN room They are all gray besides
DelnE small II they were al framed IN black
With white margins Ike the one al the bottom
Vie picture OF the geyser). would have I've
Nliie pGrallelograms with black lines around,
tac they would be handled spots and count
Iof something. especially II the wall was dark.
Ihey are wrongly hung They pitch forward
They seeern detached from the wall and the room
.lset The strings are too prominent They make
unpleasant pyramids up and down the wall When
soa look al the group you see the strings and the
had"
men he had the pictures removed, and n their
-@Ssb fastened TWO pictures fat against the wall
= WOOD engraving taken from, German maya
- eha pasted on dark card with & wide margin
- the other framed japanese picture IN color.
- Woo engraving represented q woman dressed IN
- ana q child IL white clothing cling1ne 70 her
- DioEn garments. standing at the edge OF the
So against the white foam Of which the black
q Tie mother stood out in strong relief. II