The Times, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1879

During the Regency, Victorian and Edwardian eras it was considered a very big slight if a recognized artist’s paintings were “skied” (placed above the line of vision) or “floored” (placed below the line of vision) in a gallery exhibit. While usually there was a practical reason for skying a painting, it was also a common way for the committee to show favoritism. 

One man, in 1910, who had seen his painting placed in a favorable spot and was content, returned the next day - varnishing day - and found it skyed in another room. He left in a huff and came back with a fishing pole and attempted to knock the painting down and destroy it. When security kicked him out, he came back in disguise and shot the painting four times. 

Here are a couple illustrations showing what flooring and skying looked like:

Flooring could be much worse if the room or the painting were smaller, with people having to bend and crane to view. Here’s a modern example of “floored” paintings: