The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-19

artist, but there are quantities OF exquisite
water colors, the work Of lesser lights in
the world Of art, TO be had at prices not at
all prohibitive, and there are many beaud-
full etchings which would ornament the
walls Of almost any house.
Besides there are photographs and photo
gravures OF all the most beautiful pictures
in the galleries Of Europe. to be had for so
little that il Is a wonder that there should
be any market at all for some Of the alb
surdties one sees on every side, There
are prints, too, copies Of the masterpieces
Of Van Dyke and Rembrandt, that are so
rich in the depth Of their one tone as to
suggest the warmth Of coloring in the
originals.
OF the many pitfalls that the ineIperi-
enced picture buyer Is apt to fall into when
buying prints Of the old masterpieces, the
commonest is that OF selecting the ones
that are 80 popular that, in spite Of their
undeniable beauty and artistic merit, they
are hacknoys 10 a degree. It is better 10
try to find those that are not seen at every
turn. Many Of the most beautiful have
never been exploited. and 80 have not be-
come common, and il is among these less
well known ones that individuality in
selection can be shown, with tho result
that will give a touch Of distinction to a
room.
The proper framing Of picture is quite
az important as the selection Of the picture
itself. In the ordinary living room, which
has no pretentions toward being a period
room, il is safe TO have the ma jority Of the
frames Of a dark wood brown, a color that
will harmonic with almost any furniture,
as well a. being suitable for almost any
etching, photogravure OF water color. Il
must be borne in mind. however that for a
water color bright in it's coloring a simple
gold frame il to be prcferred-a narrow
one Of plain, dull gold, and a mat Of white
or gold, a question to be decided by the
strength Of the pictures coloring.
White and gold frames have long since
had their day, and are little seen In the
shops. They do not wear well. They
have an attraction for dust, and after a
winter or two in furnace or steam heated
house they become OF q Hmutty cream color,
instead Of the fresh, dainty white and gold
Of their pristine state,
EngTavings and etchings are often better
framed without a mat. The mat often de-
tracts from the picture instead Of bringing
out it's beauties, a. II does with water coll
ors. Landscapes with a great deal Of detail
in them require very narrow frame, one
that is as simple a. i is possible to find,
while, on the other hand, bold, broadly
treated subjects require frames that are
wide and plain, and large single heads are
at their best In frames Of either rococo OF
Florentns moulding, unless they, too, are
very broadly treated. when deep, fat
frame OF either gold or stained wood will
serve as the hest background and bring out
the artistic treatment Of the subject
The charming old French and English
prints, whether originals or reproductions,
are 80 beautiful as 10 be almost as desirable
a. water colors in their soft mezzounts.
These are most frequently framed IN fiat,
dull gold, with a margin OF the paper Of the
print itself instead OF n mat OF any sort.
Their colorings are exquisite and some Of
the darker ones show TO the best advantage
when they are framed In old fashioned
polished black, with fine line Of gold next
the picture.
These prints are by no means cheap,
nor yet are they despairingly dear, and IL II
not at all an impossible thing 90 find them
In out Of the way places for prices that are
half Of what they are cold Tor In regular
picture shops. In thoss old junk shops,