DOI Heft:
Nr. 343 (December 1925)
DOI Artikel:Breuning, Margaret: Tendencies in mural decoration
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19986#0173
mceRHACionAL
StTOft©
Tendencies in r]VCural decoration
ilbert K. Chester-
ton once said that he
always longed when
he was on a bed of conva-
lescence for a pencil long
enough to draw pictures on
the ceiling. That delight-
fully blank page of ceiling or wall has ever held a
provocative suggestion of possible decoration from
the time of the Dordogne caveman down to this of
the interior decorator. Hangings of many kinds—
Aubusson to batik—papiers peints, stamped
leather, wood and metal carvings continue to have
their innings for this purpose, but the veritable
mural painting applied directly to the wall sur-
face appears to be making great strides in popu-
larity.
Religious murals follow, of course, one of the
oldest art traditions in the world, that of adorning
shrines or temples, while our contemporary use of
mural painting in the decoration of palatial homes
also sustains a hoary precedent. The fact that
such wall painting was a difficult form of loot ac-
counts for its presence in
many old chateaux and pal-
aces for us of a later day to
marvel at. The preserva-
tion of the Pompeian mu-
rals reveals how marvelously
such painting may be car-
ried out on small wall spaces. There may yet be
unearthed in Pompeii the prospectus of some Ro-
man decorator pointing out what can be done for
the little home with frescoes.
It would not be difficult to make a really im-
pressive listing of mural panels, mosaics, hangings
and carvings that have been made for the walls of
"private homes" (as the realtor so quaintly puts
it), within even the short space of the past year.
Music rooms, libraries and ballrooms have,
naturally, been the favored spots for such embel-
lishment because of their formal and rather im-
personal character. But the mural has recognized
no boundaries or limitations, for one hears of
elaborately painted bathrooms with their walls
depicting seagreen depths with waving sea weeds,
Business buddings are now
adorned with wall paintings,
as wetl as pubtic structures,
hotels and private homes
M t "B
DECEMBER I 92J
one seventy-three
StTOft©
Tendencies in r]VCural decoration
ilbert K. Chester-
ton once said that he
always longed when
he was on a bed of conva-
lescence for a pencil long
enough to draw pictures on
the ceiling. That delight-
fully blank page of ceiling or wall has ever held a
provocative suggestion of possible decoration from
the time of the Dordogne caveman down to this of
the interior decorator. Hangings of many kinds—
Aubusson to batik—papiers peints, stamped
leather, wood and metal carvings continue to have
their innings for this purpose, but the veritable
mural painting applied directly to the wall sur-
face appears to be making great strides in popu-
larity.
Religious murals follow, of course, one of the
oldest art traditions in the world, that of adorning
shrines or temples, while our contemporary use of
mural painting in the decoration of palatial homes
also sustains a hoary precedent. The fact that
such wall painting was a difficult form of loot ac-
counts for its presence in
many old chateaux and pal-
aces for us of a later day to
marvel at. The preserva-
tion of the Pompeian mu-
rals reveals how marvelously
such painting may be car-
ried out on small wall spaces. There may yet be
unearthed in Pompeii the prospectus of some Ro-
man decorator pointing out what can be done for
the little home with frescoes.
It would not be difficult to make a really im-
pressive listing of mural panels, mosaics, hangings
and carvings that have been made for the walls of
"private homes" (as the realtor so quaintly puts
it), within even the short space of the past year.
Music rooms, libraries and ballrooms have,
naturally, been the favored spots for such embel-
lishment because of their formal and rather im-
personal character. But the mural has recognized
no boundaries or limitations, for one hears of
elaborately painted bathrooms with their walls
depicting seagreen depths with waving sea weeds,
Business buddings are now
adorned with wall paintings,
as wetl as pubtic structures,
hotels and private homes
M t "B
DECEMBER I 92J
one seventy-three