New-York tribune., 1911-01-29
GERMAN THEATRICALS.

Two Of the largest and best known
ateliers in Europe for theatrical scenery
Painting are IN the city Of Coburg" says
! the American Consul in that city. Not
! only is scenery painted for all the principal
theatres in Germany, but also Tor the prin-
| cipal theatres in France Russia, Austria
and Italy. and small assignments are also
| occasionally made TO the United States.
Coburg supplies all the scenery for the
Wagner operas given at the Wagner Opera
fIouse-which is celebrated for its stage
settings-in Bayreuth. Bavaria. every two
years. As most theatres in Germany open
the fall season early in october, the pre-
ceding month is the busiest during the
whole year and work is rushed from in
the morning until midnight.
what impressed me most on a recent
visit 10 the larger of the two ateliers was
the celebrity with which everything was
being carried out. Everyone worked as If
his life depended on the orders being fin
ished by a certain time. for contracts could
not be broken, and the various theatres
had to open on the date advertised. When
a set OF scenery is ordered for some special
act or a whole play, the chief artists en-
ployed in the atelier first block out each
scene on Il piece Of canvas about by feet
in size and paint each In the exact coloIs
that the scenery itself is to be painted I'm.
These are then used as the models for
painting the full-size scenery.
"In the mean time the heads OF the ateler
are making a small model OF the theatre
stage, the model being seldom made moe
than two feet in width. The stage floor is
composed Of thick paper drawn very tight.
The shape and size of the scenery needed
for each scene IS then designed and is cut
out in cardboard. its size being proportion
ate TO that OF the stage. and the desired
designs are drawn on the cardboard with
pencil At the bottom OF each piece Of
cardboard is a small pin or sharpened piece
OF wood which can be stuck into the paper
stage at any desired place and its position
easily changed 10 obtain the desired effect.
"As soon as the models for each scene
are completed the dimensions of the scenery
required are calculated and the pieces Of
canvas cut in the necessary sizes ready for
the artists. The skeleton frames on which
the scenery IS finally fastened are then
prepared, and the cut canvases are sent 10
a large room, where the designs are blocked
out I'm charcoal ready for the artists, TO
whom they then go
"All rooms in the ateier are necessarily
large. for the canyases are laid on the floor
and painted, so that when piece of
scenery to be used as the background Of
scene is painted the room must be some
what longer tha-. the width Of the stage
for which the scenery is intended. The
artists use brushes with handles from three
n four feet long. the colors being contained
I'm various pots. while the individual pa
Iettes are considerably larger than those
ordinarily used: I'm fact. they are too large
10 hols 6, the hand, and are, therefore, laid
ON the floor. one is amazed al the deX-
teritv shown by the artists. Within two
davs scenery for a whole opera OF play
can he designed, painted and packed ready
for shipment.
.Tbe next department visited was on the
Ground floor. where stage furniture and
imitation antiques are manufactured
everything IS made Of the cheapest wood.
but is so artistically painted that only by
the closest scrutiny can one discover the
deception In an adjoining room tree trunks
and trees made OF tin are painted, this being
the newest imitation and when seen at a
distance cannot be detected from the orig
inol In the next room imitation stone
stairs. EditWdArt BbFio anu "AtAi''"'' -
,,apufactured. the last named being made
~ rapier-macht. The next room visited
u,as where scenery is sent which IS to be
,scd I'm the wings 10 represent foliage.
ocyycrs and shrubs. Such scenery is sewed
or netting. which not only makes it look
more natural. as the parts seen by the
u,,bllc do not have to be supported By
framework. but also reduces the weight OF
the scenery.
"rn separate building Tho iramework
f,r tsc canvas is begun as soon ass thc
models are completed ana hy ihe time tie
scenery is painted the skeleton frames arc
also ready. The Royal Theatre in Coburg
a. noted for IT'S beautiful scenery. all OF
,,bicu is painted here. and grand opera IS
,.,,i OH with am olaOorateness seldom seen
I'm tne largest cities, German or foreien.
,r..e ateliers are constantly being enlarged"