The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-17
FRENCH FURNITURE.
Attempt to Restore or REPLACE the
Beauties Of Old Types.
London Telegraph.

London Telegraph.
An enterprising proprietor OF one OF those
enormous universal bazaars" in Paris,
from which lola drew his "Bonheur des
Danes" has offered prize for such de-
signs in furniture and house decoration as
shall best typify and reflect the civilization
of the Third Republic. His astute proposal
has drawn attention not only to the i'm
portance of his own establishment, but TO
what he no doubt considers the secondary
question of whether such designs are pos
sible at all, and what the style, Troiseme
Republique" may fairly be considered TO be.
There is, of course, no shadow OF doubt
that the cafes Of Montmartre and the stu
dos of the Quarter Latin have long ago
composed their answers TO a challenge so
seductively held out. They will create you
a style as light heartedly as they will de-
stroy a government, and with just as little
conjunction about the ultimate verities in
volved
In reality, our enterprising bazaar keeper
Of Montmartre is not so original as may be
imagined. For some years perfect con-
tagion of eccentricity has rioted across the
continent under the name of Tart nou-
veau." The year just closing has seen sew
eral exhibitions inspired by this same re-
pudiation of everything traditional In vi
emma, in Berlin and in Munich what are
called secession" galleries have been filled
same tendency was everywhere observable
Artists have wandered off in debaucheries
of meaningless decoration; jewelers. have
twisted gold and enamel and precious stones
CANT improperly.
For very many years France was the CEN
ter of the artistic light of Europe In many
ways she must be still. But deathblow
was dealt to more than monarchy by the
events of 1879. Throughout the eighteenth
century French art. fostered by the CEN
Trailing influences of the Grand Mon
argue" gradually increased in the varied
power of its expression. At the death of
Louis XIV two styles. associated with the
names of his immediate SUCCESSORS were
WI
have been <e JOY of collectors ever since.
They inheritcf the rich harvest of the six
teenth century, OF = renaissance which took
its whole departure nom the central prin-
ciple of the rehabilitation OF the individual
Temples were forgotten, for houses had TO
be built. Artists turned from monumental
work to lavish divine ingenuity on the
production and decoration of objects in
which the personal motive was predomi-
nant The chateau called into harmonious
came the epitome of all the lesser on such
foundations worked the men who made
eighteenth century furniture from France,
whose names were Jean Lamour, Caffert
Boulle. Charles Cressant. Pasener. Gou-
There. whose elaborators were Vatican
Fragonard, Boucher, Natoire. Van Loo.
Hoet. Van Sapendonck- You may see as
where in the Jones collection at the South
Kensngton Museum or in the Wallace col
lection ~of Hartford House Everywhere
Teigns good breeding. Not a trick of fash
disorder in the dress. kindling in cloathes a
wantonesse.'' which Is as far from gross
ness as Ii is different from modesty The
artists had an exquisite tact. a happy H.
cense. an attractive piquancy In days when
convention had q greater influence on life
and conduct than II ever had before or
since. Better die than be ungraceful'
was their motto. and In II is all the charm
OF gallant. careless. aristocratic age that
has passed away forever. II blcomed the
fairer because Il was on the verge OF the
abyss The guiIlotine cut on at stroke