DOI Heft:
No. 6 (September, 1893)
DOI Artikel:Gibson, J. S.: Artistic houses
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17188#0236
Artistic Hoitses
want a low china cabinet fixed." If the artist is sible for all houses to be decorated by artists, and
also a man of sense, it will be possible for him to the average man's home will probably shew at
make a success of such a scheme, because he is best but average decoration, although even this
free to employ that refinement and originality of level of excellence would be preferable to the
detail which is essential to the best work. atrocities that now offend all elementary ideas of
The question of detail is of very great moment taste. I hardly dare hold the average man
in determining the value of the work, for coarse- responsible for all the enormities of his offence7.
ness or vulgarity, or even commonplace treatment for if the means are bad the results can hardly be
of these things, will detract from otherwise excellent creditable. The furnishing firms that cater to his
features. . wants do not offer en-
commends itself by reason found that the defects
tailed^ ^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ '^^^
page 2^57), gives us that " every room should be
' A SETTLE, BY MESSRS. W. MORRIS AND CO., IN THE '
feeling of pleased surprise 0LD SWAN HOUSEi CHELSEA governed by its propor-
that only comes from the (Photographed by Messrs. Bedford, Lcmere &■ Co.) tions, lighting, aspect, posi-
contemplation of the works tion of doors, windows and
of those who bring their whole minds to bear on fireplace, and many other minor details that are
all matters of minor detail. only apparent on careful personal examination.
There is nothing worth doing but is worth doing If a room be too long, it will require to be divided
well, seems to be the motto of such artists, and in by screens; if too high, then its appearance of
all work projected for our own houses the same height may be lowered by means of a dado, frieze,
principle should be followed. and cornice; if too low, it may be heightened by
The decoration of a man's home should be his having scarcely any cornice or skirtings ; but the
most immediate labour, and although expenditure decision to carry out any of these alterations must
is of primary importance, it by no means provides be the result of a knowledge of the actual room
or debars the exhibition of artistic qualities. itself.
At present, it is in the nature of things impos- The colour of a wall-paper is often determined..
218
want a low china cabinet fixed." If the artist is sible for all houses to be decorated by artists, and
also a man of sense, it will be possible for him to the average man's home will probably shew at
make a success of such a scheme, because he is best but average decoration, although even this
free to employ that refinement and originality of level of excellence would be preferable to the
detail which is essential to the best work. atrocities that now offend all elementary ideas of
The question of detail is of very great moment taste. I hardly dare hold the average man
in determining the value of the work, for coarse- responsible for all the enormities of his offence7.
ness or vulgarity, or even commonplace treatment for if the means are bad the results can hardly be
of these things, will detract from otherwise excellent creditable. The furnishing firms that cater to his
features. . wants do not offer en-
commends itself by reason found that the defects
tailed^ ^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ '^^^
page 2^57), gives us that " every room should be
' A SETTLE, BY MESSRS. W. MORRIS AND CO., IN THE '
feeling of pleased surprise 0LD SWAN HOUSEi CHELSEA governed by its propor-
that only comes from the (Photographed by Messrs. Bedford, Lcmere &■ Co.) tions, lighting, aspect, posi-
contemplation of the works tion of doors, windows and
of those who bring their whole minds to bear on fireplace, and many other minor details that are
all matters of minor detail. only apparent on careful personal examination.
There is nothing worth doing but is worth doing If a room be too long, it will require to be divided
well, seems to be the motto of such artists, and in by screens; if too high, then its appearance of
all work projected for our own houses the same height may be lowered by means of a dado, frieze,
principle should be followed. and cornice; if too low, it may be heightened by
The decoration of a man's home should be his having scarcely any cornice or skirtings ; but the
most immediate labour, and although expenditure decision to carry out any of these alterations must
is of primary importance, it by no means provides be the result of a knowledge of the actual room
or debars the exhibition of artistic qualities. itself.
At present, it is in the nature of things impos- The colour of a wall-paper is often determined..
218