DOI Heft:
Nr. 335 (April 1925)
DOI Artikel:Rosse, Helena S.: Statuary in the garden
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19985#0051
mceRnAcionAL
Stone and marble statues
have through the ages been con-
sidered to be the most desirable
of all but are also the most
costly to produce, which prob-
ably accounts for their being
looked up to with more public
respect than bronze or leaden
statues of at least equal artistic
value. Several firms are produc-
ing cement casts in imitation of
sandstone figures, and some of
the very best of those can be
used effectively in gardens, and
after they are weathered a little
their texture can be quite
pleasing.
It is when wc consider how
often all these different types of
statuary have been misused,
either by selecting the wrong
piece for its place or by choosing
statuary that is bad m itself,
that we are tempted to say that
it is fortunate that in the past
few years the installing of stat-
uary in home gardens has prac-
tically come to a standstill. Be-
cause, after having had a period
of little or no ornament in the
garden, the present generation
has had a chance to forget that
there was such a thing as preju-
dice, caused by a too excessive
use of inferior ornaments, and
many garden owners are begin-
ning to realize that one may use
real works of art outside as well
as inside the house.
The success of a piece of
sculpture for outdoor use de- "fountain figure" by janet scudder
pends so entirely upon its plac-
ing that this deserves as much thought and plan- pleasant a surprise to the rushing passer-by, such
ning, if not more, than any other part of the a refreshing suggestion of quiet and peace among
garden. A marked example of how a piece of all this turmoil of the city, that it was a real loss
statuary can be very successful in one place and when the park commissioners claimed the foun-
totally uninteresting in another was given in tain as belonging in the park and moved it to a
Chicago a few years ago. In a most unexpected large open lawn, where it now stands, unobserved
spot, on the sidewalk of one of the busiest streets and not making any impression at all.
in Chicago, entirely devoid of any attempts at It is not possible to give any guiding rules for
decorative effects otherwise, stood a little bronze the placing of garden sculpture, because each piece
fountain, representing a girl holding a basin of requires its very own place and surroundings and,
water with a bird drinking from it. Although it vice-versa, each type of garden requires a certain
had no particular merits in the way of sculpture, type of ornament. For example, when a prospec-
the perfectly unexpected presence of it, in the tive garden owner has in mind a certain statue
midst of wholesale houses and trucks, was so which he would like to use in his garden, he will
april 1925
fifty-one
Stone and marble statues
have through the ages been con-
sidered to be the most desirable
of all but are also the most
costly to produce, which prob-
ably accounts for their being
looked up to with more public
respect than bronze or leaden
statues of at least equal artistic
value. Several firms are produc-
ing cement casts in imitation of
sandstone figures, and some of
the very best of those can be
used effectively in gardens, and
after they are weathered a little
their texture can be quite
pleasing.
It is when wc consider how
often all these different types of
statuary have been misused,
either by selecting the wrong
piece for its place or by choosing
statuary that is bad m itself,
that we are tempted to say that
it is fortunate that in the past
few years the installing of stat-
uary in home gardens has prac-
tically come to a standstill. Be-
cause, after having had a period
of little or no ornament in the
garden, the present generation
has had a chance to forget that
there was such a thing as preju-
dice, caused by a too excessive
use of inferior ornaments, and
many garden owners are begin-
ning to realize that one may use
real works of art outside as well
as inside the house.
The success of a piece of
sculpture for outdoor use de- "fountain figure" by janet scudder
pends so entirely upon its plac-
ing that this deserves as much thought and plan- pleasant a surprise to the rushing passer-by, such
ning, if not more, than any other part of the a refreshing suggestion of quiet and peace among
garden. A marked example of how a piece of all this turmoil of the city, that it was a real loss
statuary can be very successful in one place and when the park commissioners claimed the foun-
totally uninteresting in another was given in tain as belonging in the park and moved it to a
Chicago a few years ago. In a most unexpected large open lawn, where it now stands, unobserved
spot, on the sidewalk of one of the busiest streets and not making any impression at all.
in Chicago, entirely devoid of any attempts at It is not possible to give any guiding rules for
decorative effects otherwise, stood a little bronze the placing of garden sculpture, because each piece
fountain, representing a girl holding a basin of requires its very own place and surroundings and,
water with a bird drinking from it. Although it vice-versa, each type of garden requires a certain
had no particular merits in the way of sculpture, type of ornament. For example, when a prospec-
the perfectly unexpected presence of it, in the tive garden owner has in mind a certain statue
midst of wholesale houses and trucks, was so which he would like to use in his garden, he will
april 1925
fifty-one