ies of change, holding their own, and
increasing in value and esteem.

For hangings in church decoration, the reader is referred to the
chapters on ecclesiastical art and on tapestry.

Having discussed the origin and reason for hangings, and having tried
to draw from what has been accepted as beautiful and perfect in taste,
some guidance in hanging our modern rooms, supposing always that the
spaces are fitted for really fine decorations, I yet would add a few
more words on this subject. There are in general some previous
conditions which will help us to choose the style and design of such
furnishings. In the first place, we should study what is appropriate
to the persons who will first inhabit the rooms. The bride's apartment
may be white and gold, garlanded with roses, and gay with groups of
Cupids; but such prettinesses would not be suitable to the home of a
mourning Queen. Tender or subdued colouring equally sets off groups of
young and lovely faces, and the bent form robed in black. Embroideries
are always agreeable on such backgrounds, and it is as a vehicle for
needlework that I now allude to the design of the artist in hangings.
We are somewhat restricted, or we ought to be, when there are
treasures of art already in the house, by the desire to exhibit them
to the best advantage. The hangings should be of a colour which suits
all pictures, and if the walls are either embroidered or tapestried
with woven designs, they should be very much subdued, both in form and
colour, so as not to prevent the eye from perceiving at once the
precious objects hung against them. A fine brocade or velvet of one
colour suits pictures best; but if our object is to show off our
cabinets, which are generally black, and our statues, which are mostly
white, then richly embroidered backgrounds in brilliant colours are
the best, compensating the eye in variety and splendour.

FOOTNOTES:

[438] The "women who wove the hangings for the grove"
were probably priestesses of the worship of Astarte
(2 Kings xxiii. 7).

[439] He says that within the sacred shrine was revealed
their god--a beast rolling on a purple couch--veiled
with gold embroidered hangings; and he describes the
magnificent temples, gleaming with gold, silver, and
electrum. Quoted from Clemens Alexandrinus, in Renouf's
"Hibbert Lectures," p. 2.

[440] "Fine linen with broidered work from Egypt was
that which thou spreadest fo