The European Rooms in Miniature, by Mrs. James Ward Thorne, exhibited at John Herron Art Institute contain the depth of reality and the realm of fantasy. The realization that the objects in these rooms are perfect miniature replicas of exemplary period furnishings catches one\u27s imagination

Fall, Carol

English

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other week, classes take trips to thenumerous museums, historical sites, andother places of interest there. A classmay be seen boarding a subway train ora double-decker bus, which is itself apleasure, going to the Museum of NaturalHistory, the American Museum, Grant'sTomb, or the Aquarium. Every schoolhas its pleasures and drawbacks, butgoing to school in New York City is adefinite adventure which gives an unusualkind of education.Peter Pan's ParadiseCAROL FALLThe European Rooms in Miniature,by Mrs. James Ward Thorne, exhibitedat John Herron Art Institute contain thedepth of reality and the realm of fantasy.The realization that the objects in theserooms are perfect miniature replicas ofexemplary period furnishings catchesone's imagination."Our Lady Queen of Angels" is anappropriate title for the enchanting modelof a Roman style Catholic church. It isthe largest and most awe-inspiring of therooms. An atmosphere of peace andsanctity seems to be prevalent in thisscene. Streams of light that pierce thestained glass windows and break intoprisrr.s of color, inshroud the altar andseem to say, "Quiet .and peace reign here."The attitudes, the customs, and thehistory of a people are reflected by the in-terior decorating in this dwelling. TheGreat Hall of the late Tudor period with:ts romantic suits of armour and its robustfurniture is a sharp contrast to the fanci-ful Italian Baraque and Callaliltis of theStuart period. One can. easily tell bylooking into these rooms the great effectthat world events have upon architecture.The discovery of Pompeii brought theclassical period to Europe in which thearchitecture of Ancient Greece reigned.The anteroom during the period ofI_JNapoleon's empire was highly decoratedwith Egyptian motifs and color schemes.These rooms, in my estimation, hold thekey to the revolt of the common andmiddle class people of Europe against thearistccracy. One can realize how indign-ant he would be to see such splendoramid dire poverty.Being an ardent admirer of modernis-tic architecture, I liked the contemporaryrooms most of all. These rooms seem tobe made for; comfort and beauty, not theartificial beauty of the straight highbacked chair or the coldly formalizedpillars and rigid design.If I were Peter Pan or Tom Thumb,the modern English room is where I. ·t thewould like to stay. I would VISImodern French library or foyer and strollinto the garden beneath the sun, but Iwould always return to the. English room.I like the soft lightning effect, the tinycrystal horses in the dining room, and thethick carpet in front of the fire place.This room would be decorative, yet simple;n comparison to most of the other typesof reoms in this exhibition. Being tinylike Peter Pan would have its advantagesfor this English model is the most beauti-fully simple, "livable," room I have everseen.._(22)

Peter Pan\u27s Paradise

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Peter Pan\u27s Paradise

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