EVER WONDERED WHAT it takes to hang hundreds of paintings perfectly? Apparently up to six people and mad math skills. That’s what Frye Museum exhibition designer Shane Montgomery claims. But he also claims you could get by with just the basics—and a good eye for symmetry.
- Determine a viewing height and have a friend hold the picture while you mark the bottom of the frame’s position on the wall with masking tape.
- Measure the distance from the bottom of the frame to the hanging hardware on the back of the frame, and make two corresponding marks on the wall.
- Take a floreat picture hanger and attach it to the wall with a hammer (use two floreats for maximum stability). Place the picture carefully onto the floreats, taking care not to scratch the wall paint.
Published: September 2011
Regarding your question:
“My question is how to determine optimal viewing height. I have had knock-down, drag-out arguments with curators about this, when I’ve had to bend over to view pictures well, and I’m not particularly tall (only 5’11”). Advice?"
More often than not, people have a tendency to hang pictures waaaaay too high. Eye level is a good rule-of-thumb, but if you are in a room where you are mostly seated, say a living room, your art will likely be hung to be comfortably viewed from a seated position. Also, when hanging over a sofa, make sure the art is ‘connected’ to the seating arrangement, usually mounting only a few inches from the back fo the sofa, for example. You don’t want to create a situation where your picture is “floating” all by itself.
Also, not every item should be hung smack in the middle of the wall!
When hanging multiple items, arrange them first on the floor until you have determined the ideal arrangemant. Then you can transfer and install them on the wall (part of the old measure twice, hammer once concept!)
Museum settings are different than residential settings, of course! Guess your question got me going!
~ Robin Daly
My question is how to determine optimal viewing height. I have had knock-down, drag-out arguments with curators about this, when I’ve had to bend over to view pictures well, and I’m not particularly tall (only 5’11").
Advice?