Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-05
HOW TO ARRANGE PICTURES IN A
HOME,

Even if there is little money in the
treasury, there are beSutiful pictures
to be acquired for little or nothing;
magazine covers, for example, colored
pictures in the leading magazines by
some of our famous artists. Little,
trivial, meaningless pictures are unin-
spring and Improbable.
Battle and other exciting scenes wear
on the nerves. a picture which one
seeks vainly is for peace and quietude
and inspIra ion; also rest giving pic
lures of marine views and of pastoral
and woodland scenes. Nadonnas and
other pictures of religious significance
have their great worth.
Some authorities advise against the
use of family photographs in the first
floor rooms; bat unless a room is in
the nature of d reception room and
much used by strangers, photographs
are a great addition and give that
honey, personal touch so much desired.
When the pictures have been selected
for the various rooms the problem Of
hanging them has to be faced. The
mistake has been too often made by
hanging them too high. When pictures
are hung too high IA is almost iTnpos-
sjble to see them without mounting
upon chair; and when too low you
feel that you want to move all the
furniture out Of the way to look at
them.
1 was where pictures were hung in such
a manner that there was no suitability
about it. A girl in an evening gown
placed between a snow capped noun
tain and a tumultuous war scene,
I think we should arrange pictures
with some idea of sociability; arrange
people on the wall SO that they do not
turn their backs to one another.
If the cOlors Of a picture are printed
in bright tones, the degree of light
needed to show them to advantage is
not as great as is required for colors
OF less intense character.
Dark corners may be perceptibIy
frightened by the introduction of light
or bright shades.
Large pictures require distance to
give the best effect. as do all pictures
Of winding roads and brooks that seem
to disappear behind the horizon.
Portraits Of we'll known authors ac-
Quire increased interest if placed above
or beside a bookcase containing their
work, while photographs of composers
are more carefully hung near the
piano.
Small pictures should always be
grouped, arranging them in a pyramid
shape over q manteI piece or sofa or
other heavy piece of furniture. The
middle picture should be the highest
and the others arranged in a sort of
triangle, the furniture. etc, forming
the base. In arranging pictures after
this plan do not arrange them so as to
make one conscious Of the boundary
| line.
Another method to arrange pictures
to insure good balance: Imagine the
large centerpfece Of the group is the
| middle of a scesaw, and so place the
pictures on either side Of this as to
keep a good level, remembering that a
small weight at the end Of the seesaw
is equivalent to a much heavier one
middle way between the center and the
end.
Good pictures hung in appropriate
positions. suitably grouped with re-
gard for the effect of the setting to
the picture and the picture to the
room, viii add much to the interest
and significance of our homes.
7 will send directions how to paint
pictures to any Sister who will write
me.
ETHELYN.