The masterpieces of the Centennial international exhibition of 1876 .. . uces the accidental grouping of natural forms to ornament a carpetor a wall-paper only imperfecdy represents the phenomenon of the mirror, withas little thought, the same skill in design, and with less reflecdon. The broad clear line, then, which history teaches us to draw between designapplied to industrial and fine art, divides the ornamental from the pictorial, theconventional from the natural adaptation from imitation, the geometrical fromperspective effects. When either branch of design deserts its own characterisdcs
The masterpieces of the Centennial international exhibition of 1876 .. . uces the accidental grouping of natural forms to ornament a carpetor a wall-paper only imperfecdy represents the phenomenon of the mirror, withas little thought, the same skill in design, and with less reflecdon. The broad clear line, then, which history teaches us to draw between designapplied to industrial and fine art, divides the ornamental from the pictorial, theconventional from the natural adaptation from imitation, the geometrical fromperspective effects. When either branch of design deserts its own characterisdcs and employs INDUSTRIAL ART. 513 the laneuaee of the other, the result will be final debasement, however beautifulat first sight may be the form in which the error is displayed ; though perma-nendy beautiful, it will not be held. Accepting these general principles, it isnot impossible to formulate, or at any rate to indicate, the necessary elementsof good taste in design for industrial purposes. Before going into details concerning the application of design to special. Hindoo Bronze Vase. branches of industry, let us examine for awhile the bearing of the dividing-linedrawn above, and see whether it explains the exceptional beauty of styles whichrecognized its existence. It is sometimes convenient, for the sake of illustra-tion, to put cases in their most exaggerated forms, in order that those whoare unaccustomed to make nice distinctions between right and wrong may seethe truth when the blackest and whitest are placed side by side. Even thosewho are unable to make a comparison may be reached by a contrast, just asthose who never had the blessing of a musical educadon may be deaf to the 514 THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, 1876. mild agony of an intentional discord, but would be exasperated and gesticulantover the clanging and horrors of half a dozen brass bands playing that numberof tunes at the same time, under the windows. In reasoning, when there isdanger of missing conviction
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookpublisherphila, bookyear1876
