File:Examples of household taste (1875) (14595686889).jpg

Identifier: examplesofhouseh00smit (find matches)
Title: Examples of household taste
Year: 1875 (1870s)
Authors: Smith, Walter, 1836-1886 Smith, Walter, 1836-1886. Industrial art of the International Exhibition
Subjects: Centennial Exhibition (1876 : Philadelphia, Pa.) Decorative arts
Publisher: New York, R. Worthington
Contributing Library: Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute Library

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
Porcelain Plaque: French Court. able absence of the tendency to over-elaboration that too often mars Spanishart-work. The designs for the medallions, it will be noticed, are quite free fromexaggeration, and nothing could be simpler than the pattern of the border, yetthe effect of the whole is one of extreme elegance. The large Porcelain Vase engraved on page 239 is somewhat different inthe style of its decoration from any of the other pieces of Chinese potterywhich we have illustrated in the preceding pages. The body, neck and lips ofthe vase are covered for the most part with a fine vine and flower scroll patterndone in polychrome, but the front portion is occupied by medallions painted 244 THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, i8j6. with figure-subjects. What the subject of the upper design is, is uncertain,though it might very well represent a high official beset by rival office-seekers. But the lower picture tells its
Text Appearing After Image:
Here is a errand own story. Mogul seated at his ease,surrounded by his courtiers,watching the performance of acouple of clowns. Standingon the steps just outside of theMoguls court is the masterof the clowns, urging the poorfellows on to renewed exer-tions, while on either hand,keeping him, the master, tohis work, are two courtiers,one expostulating with himkindly, and the other standingsilent, with drawn sword, anda most sinister look on hisface—an action more potentthan words. This picture is a very goodillustration of Chinese picto-rial art. It is full of characterand action. What could bebetter than the attitude andexpression of the master ofthe clowns here, or of the pe-destrian who has paused inhis walk to enjoy their an-tics? It is not fine art, con-sidered by our canons of gooddrawing and perspective, but it shows more artistic perception and ability toportray the salient points of a situation, than many European artists possess. Lace Curtain . Heyman 6-> Alexander, Notti

Note About Images