Do not hang a picture in direct light, as exactly opposite a sunny window. When possible, a picture should be located with reference to windows and other openings so that it will be lighted as the artist intend ed; that is, the shadows in the picture should appear to be cast by the light that falls upon it.
Suspend large and heavy pictures from a picture molding which may be as near to the ceiling as possible to give a low room the effect of greater height, or lower it from the ceiling to give a high room a broader effect. Use as little picture wire as may be. Two wires and hooks, one near either end of a large picture, rather than a single hook with wire running from it diagonally in either direction, is to be preferred. Suspend small pictures preferably from small hooks or tacks driven into the wall behind the pic ture itself, and by means of rings or screw eyes in the back of the frame, all of which will be concealed from sight when the picture is hung. That is, have as little picture wire visible as possible. Ordinary woven picture wire is now inexpensive and can be used again and again. It not only looks better but is safer than cord. Ordinary " silver " wire is suitable for most purposes. It can be touched up with a little bronze paint to hang gilt frames, or when it becomes tarnished. Picture hooks of brass may be painted white or otherwise, to conform to the color of the picture molding and thus be less conspicuous.
In order to get the most effective arrangement, when in doubt where to hang pictures, do the experimental grouping on the floor. Thus the pic tures may be shifted about until the most tasteful way is found. This saves many trips up and down the stepladder. When taking down pic tures from the molding, make a dot with a pencil point on the wall back of the molding, where it will not show, exactly where the hook was hung, or leave the hook in place so that the pic ture when cleaned may be returned to its place without the necessity of measuring again. But if the wall cov erings are of material that shows the effect of fading, as do most solid col ors, especially greens and browns in ingrain papers, burlap, and the like, change the position of the pictures occasionally. Otherwise the wall cov ering behind the picture will not fade, and when for any reason a change becomes necessary the outlines will be unsightly.
Passepartout.—Buy a piece of glass cut to the desired size at a picture shop. Common window glass will an swer. Or buy old photographic nega tives from a photographer, and have them cut to the right size if necessary by a glazier. Soak these in strong potash lye to remove the films, and rinse in clear water. The glass may be of the same size as the picture, or the picture may be mounted on a suit-' able mat and backed with a piece of cardboard in which small rings or pieces of wire have been inserted to hang it up by. Bind the whole around the edges with passepartout binding, which may be had in any desired color of a dealer in photographic supplies. Thus prints and photographs may be neatly and artistically framed for next to nothing and form suitable orna ments for any home.
Mats for Pictures.—Use common in grain or moire wall papers of various colors in place of mats or picture mounts. It is cheaper and equally effective. Mount the pictures on the mats as photographs are mounted, if desired, or measure the proper size for a cut-out with pencil and paper on the back of the mat and cut along the edges with the point of a very sharp penknife or a razor.
Magazine Covers. — The cover de signs and full-page illustrations of several of the leading monthly and other periodicals are reproductions of the best works of prominent artists and illustrators. These are freely
used in many homes to decorate the walls of libraries, dens, and sometimes living rooms, either framed or bound in passepartout binding or merely neatly trimmed with a straightedge, and at tached to the wall by means of brass headed tacks or thumb tacks. A series of cover designs of one or more peri odicals makes a very interesting and attractive frieze for the den or library.
To Transfer Pictures.—To transfer to glass any sort of pictures upon paper or cardboard, cut the glass to the desired size, wash it clean with soap and water, rinse dry and go over the surface with a cloth moistened in alcohol. Apply one or two coats of colorless copal or other hard spirit varnishes, and let dry where no dust can fall upon it. Soak the print or photograph in water until it is thor oughly saturated, or, in the case of a photograph, until it can be detached from the mount. It will not be in jured by water if care is taken when it is wet not to tear it. Let stand in water over night if necessary. When fully saturated lay the face of the print on a sheet of blotting paper, give the glass a fresh coat of varnish, and when the varnish becomes tacky, but before it dries, put the engraving in place, face downward, on the var nished side of the glass. Rub it down by means of a straightedged piece of soft rubber called a " squeegee," or the blunt edge of an ivory paper cut ter, Thus get every bubble of air out from between the print and the glass. By means of 2 soft piece of India rubber rub up and remove the moist paper from the back of the print until it becomes transparent and as thin as may be without injuring the image. Varnish the back and let it dry. Pic tures thus transferred are especially convenient for binding with passe partout tape, as there is less weight and thickness to be sustained.
Pictures—To Transfer to Plaster.— To transfer a print of any sort from paper or cardboard to a plaster-of Paris mold or cast, or rather to mount the print on a suitable disk of plaster of Paris, first obtain a dish or tray of suitable size and shape, of tin, glass, Japan ware, or any hard substance having a smooth surface. Moisten the edges of the print with water, and if it is mounted on thick paper or card board bevel the edge of the mount from the back by rubbing with a piece of sandpaper or sheering it by means of a razor or other sharp tool so that the edge of the print will be thin. But take care not to give a ragged edge to the print itself. Obtain plaster of Paris from a paint shop and mix it with cold water to the consistency of cream. Dip the picture in cold water, lay it face down in the bottom of the tray, and squeegee it down smooth to force out bubbles of air from between the print and the glass. Pour the plaster over it to a depth of half an inch or less, and before the plaster sets insert into the back hooks or passe partout hangers by means of which to suspend it. Just before the plaster hardens loosen it slightly about the edges with a sharp knife, and when it has fully set it will slip out of the mold, having a smooth surface to con form to the inside of the tray, and showing the design as if the lines were drawn and the colors printed upon the cast. Trays may be round, square, or oblong, to suit the designs, and maga zine covers or full-page colored repro ductions from periodicals or any other pictures may be transferred or mount ed by this process.