It is interesting to note that decorative ceilings are coming back into favour, and of course with them the mouldings at the edge which, properly, are meant not to be a part of the wall but a frame for the decoration of the ceiling.
The latter is to some extent a question of size. A very big hall would scarcely be finished with a decorated ceiling. Eighteenth century churches, whether with flat or rounded ceiling almost always had them decorated. One of the most brilliant in London is that of St. Mary-lo-Strand, with a raised design in deeply coffered squares heavily moulded and painted red, blue and gold. All the interior lof this curious old church is gorgeously coloured, besides having quantities of fine old oak, including a superb oak pulpit.
But even, comparatively small ceilings are improved by decoration of the right kind. The supreme artist in this work was Robert Adam of the 18th century, who adorned his ceilings with modelled plasterwork, exquisite designs of flowers and fruit. The reception rooms of the Chinese Embassy in London have Adam ceilings, as well as Adam doors and chimney pieces, and very fine they are, What strikes one so much about Adam's decorations is that he could be so mathematically precise, while keeping his design fresh and apparently spontaneous. Some of the Royal Academicians are turning their attention to this field of decoration with charming effect. (I know that "Royal Academician" is as a red rag to a bull for some artistic souls: but would you like a ceiling decorated by a surrealist?)
Ceiling papers are also being produced by manufacturers for quite small rooms. But with these one needs to be careful or one may get back to the fussy overcrowded effect of Victorian rooms.
But people are plainly beginning to tire of the severely plain interiors to which the dictators of Taste flung them back in revolt against. Victorianisms. Once more pictures are being hung on walls, to the secret delight of Chelsea studios and garrets, in which picture-painting has for several years been a very barren field. The pictures hitherto sold in this year's Royal Academy, like the numbers of visitor to see it, are a record.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.