PICTURES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18069, 17 March 1923, Page 5

PICTURES.

ABOUT THEIR ARRANGEMENT. (By a Frenchwoman). In the eighteenth century French walls were upholstered in lovely silks or they showed plain wood panels in ‘'carved frames. Pictures were arranged to suit the pattern of the silks or the proportions of the panels. Thus they formed a pattern on the wall, and usually a piece of furniture stood in front of each group. A beautiful table or console would be backed by three coloured prints on a low lino, with a mirror in an oval frame over tile middle picture, and on either side of it were ornate branch candlesticks fastened on the walls. PLACING FAMILY PORTRAITS: Over the tnantlepieee, flanking the mirror set into the wood panelling with a wall painting of fete galante above, would bo three or four small family portraits, hung one above the other to the height of the mirror. The best French eighteenth century taste never showed walls heavily laden with pictures. During the nineteenth century pictures increased and multiplied, and were hung ! ] over the most ornate wall-papere '"heir heavy gold frames weighted t 'alls and gave to tho room a cramped appearance. Modern taste is encouraging simplicity, and space on the walls and in the rooms. Plain wood panels, and plain papers are growing in favour for . rooms in which pictures arc to be hung, and when patterned silks or papers are used few or no pictures are hung. Persian and Chinese designs are in favour for wall-hangings, but the old fashioned French cretonne or strong linen, known as teile de JcCiy, is still used, especially in country houses and bedrooms;

| breaking the wall space* Some people replace pictures b,> framed or untrained pieces of rare brocade or some ancient priestly vestment. A mirror, a candelabra, a china cabinet may break the wall space here ana there, but never spoil the restfulness of the room. The value of space and peace indoors is all the more valuable in crowded cities where the life of the streets is such a turmoil. Japanese I prints, lightly framed, and with or without a margin, are used to decorate modem walls. Ileal or imitation

eighteenth century prints are in favour with those whose rooms are furnished in the style of that period. _ Heavy gold frames are still seen in houses from which Louis Philippe furniture has not been banished, and where the taste of Napoleon I. prevails. The old fashion-plate under glass is an affection of the hour. Sporting prints are seen in some rooms, and delicate water-colours in others. Etchings and dry points are kept together. Photographs are sparsely used. French people do not nux thenpictures.

TO PROVIDE BRIGHTNESS-. The fashion of the year is to keep the walls almost /,-lear, and to put on them only a few decorative pieces to provide brightness in the way that a pot of flowers gives life to a room. The older generation clings to the things it has inherited, and the result i;s a bric-a-brac.