THE CHAOTIC ONE
The salon style hanging
Our customers did it this way - examples from the HALBE blog:
Discover further hangings:
Single hanging
Horizontal hanging
Vertical hanging
Triptych
Block hanging
Edge hanging
What is Petersburg hanging?
Petersburg hanging is a technique in which pictures and works of art are hung close together on the wall in large groups. The pictures usually hang from the baseboard to the ceiling and cover the entire wall surface. This method was originally used in the halls of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg to present a variety of motifs in a limited space - hence the term "Petersburg hanging".
The "wild" Petersburg hanging clearly stands out from other design options. It looks chaotic, yet harmonious. In everyday life, you are more likely to come across this hanging in quaint pubs, restaurants and bars with photos of famous guests. There it is created at random. Additional pictures are placed wherever there is space. In this way, the different motifs, sizes and picture frame types complement each other to create a wild look.
The Petersburg hanging gives your creativity free rein by combining different formats and picture frames in a seemingly loose arrangement. This apparent disorder usually conceals a well thought-out system of imaginary reference lines that nevertheless lend the pictures a harmonious appearance.
But Petersburg hanging is also becoming increasingly popular in modern interior design. It offers a perfect presentation for the variety of artworks and creates an impressive wall design. The method can be used not only in traditional living spaces, but also in modern, minimalist interiors.
History of the Petersburg Hanging
The history of the Petersburg Hanging dates back to the 18th century, when the art collections in the palaces and museums of St. Petersburg grew steadily. The Hermitage, one of the most famous museums in the world, still houses countless works of art in its 350 halls. A close arrangement of paintings was intended to impress viewers and encourage them to buy art.
In addition to the Petersburg hanging, other hanging techniques also developed, but the salon hanging remained particularly popular due to its impressive effect and the possibility of combining many individual paintings into a single unit.
Petersburg picture hanging brings together a variety of art into a single unit and creates an impressive picture wall. Although this method appears chaotic, it brings calm to the composition through the use of imaginary reference lines and a targeted arrangement of the picture frames.
The close arrangement and use of different frames or thematically related motifs creates a dynamic yet harmonious mural. This method offers room for your creativity and allows you to set personal accents without being too meticulous when measuring and planning.
St. Petersburg hanging, also known as salon hanging, brings out the diversity of your pictures in an impressive way. This method of wall design, which originated in the magnificent halls of the St. Petersburg Hermitage, is still fascinating today. In this article, you will learn about the techniques of St. Petersburg hanging and receive practical tips on how to implement them in your own four walls. Find out how you can show off your works of art to their best advantage in just a few steps with a seemingly chaotic but well thought-out arrangement.
Guide: 6 practical tips for the Petersburg picture montage
- Planning and selecting the images: Choose a mixture of images or photos, in different formats and styles if you wish. The only important thing is that they harmonize thematically or in terms of colour.
- Frames and passepartout: Choose frames and passe-partouts that match each other stylistically and make the overall picture look harmonious.
- Preparation: Gather all the pictures and works of art that you want to hang. Lay them out on the floor first to try out different arrangements. When hanging the wall pictures, proceed from the inside out, starting with the largest frame or the central motif of the collection. This creates a nice and loose arrangement of the pictures.
- Marking: Mark the places on the wall where the pictures are to hang. Ideally, use a taut string or a laser measuring device for this. Although the Petersburg hanging often appears chaotic, certain imaginary reference lines are still necessary to achieve a harmonious arrangement.
- Use of spacers: Cardboard spacers help to find the right distance between the pictures and make the hanging even.
- Mounting: Start with the largest or most important picture in the middle and work your way outwards. Use nails or special picture hooks to attach the pictures securely.
A comparison of hanging techniques
Compared to other hanging techniques such as grid hanging or single hanging, Petersburg hanging offers greater flexibility and expressiveness. While grid hanging follows a strict geometric arrangement and single hanging allows each work of art to work on its own, this special type of hanging combines several pictures into a single unit.
This technique makes it possible to present a large number of artworks in a limited space, creating a dynamic yet harmonious wall design. The dense placement of the pictures also creates a special aesthetic quality that other hanging techniques often lack.
Further detailed instructions on how to hang different pictures and creatively design your wall can also be found on our website.
