Page 96 - Industries_of_San_Antonio

96 SAN ANTONIO-HER TRADE,

velopment of civilization, the intellect and tastes, we find fine art studied
and encouraged, and entering largely into the ornamentation of even the
most ordinary as well as greatest objects. Philosophers of all schools—
from Pythagoses and Plato, down to Shelling and Winkelmann—have
identified the beautiful and the good. Fine art refines and calls into exer-
cise the better qualities of our human nature, and thus exerts a most bene-
ficial effect on society. The fine arts comprehend architecture, painting,
sculpture and music; and the most elevated of these, because so few, com-
paratively, have attained great excellence among its devotees, that their
names will live forever—is painting. If the proposition be granted that
painting, as a fine art, is beneficial to society in its effects, it is a logical
sequence that all branches of business, which assist in its development and
encouragement, are proportionately important and beneficial. We are led
into these remarks by looking over the data of C. H. Mueller, on Com-
merce street, whose establishment is devoted to supplying artists with
necessary materials for prosecuting their studies and productions, must be
regarded as one of the most useful mercantile concerns in the city. Mr.
Mueller carries a large and comprehensive stock of artists' drawing and
painting materials, canvass, oil and water colors, crayon chalks, India
inks, palettes, easels, rest sticks, oils, varnishes, dryers, paints, brushes,
palette knives, etc., from the best European and home manufactories. He
also keeps in stock, and manufactures to order, picture frames in any style
or design required. His life long experience, conceded good taste and con-
stant study, enables him to furnish frames of the most tasteful design and
appropriate to any purpose for which they may be desired. He also carries
a large and desirable line of foreign and domestic wall papers, in fine as
well as ordinary patterns. His gallery, which is always open to the pub-
lic for inspection, contains many art treasures, gathered from the works of
celebrated artists—paintings, engravings, artists' proofs, etchings, crayons,
pastilles—exact reproductions of the French and German schools, etc.,
which are at once instructive and an abiding pleasure. Three skillful and
tasteful assistants are employed, and all work is done under Mr. Mueller's
supervision and in the highest style of refinement. This establishment
was founded in 1869, upon a limited capital, but the intelligence, energy
and correct taste of Mr. Mueller, who has been always in advance of the
times and a leader of public taste, brought patronage and an increase of
capital, and his business grew. He carries stock averaging $10,000 in
value; his trade extends through this State and into Mexico, the annual
transactions reaching $40,000. Mr. Mueller has given a life time to the
study of his business and its artistic culture, and he is eminently fitted for
it by natural taste and inclination. It is an establishment of which our
people may well be proud, and it is one of the attractive resorts for the
best cultured citizens and strangers. He merits every encouragement, and
every courtesy will be extended to visitors.