From April 22nd to the 26th, I'll share five of my favorite Pre-Raphaelite paintings that can be found at National Gallery of Art's special exhibit.
You can fully experience these five works, and many more during
my tour on Sunday, April 29th!Enjoy! And please feel free to comment below and share with your friends!
Click on image to enlarge
A family looks grateful to be reunited. Who seems most grateful? The baby? The dog? ...
What happened to the woman's husband? How did he get his injury? A brawl? A battle? Where is he leaving from? A hospital? A tavern? ...
Who is the man holding open the door? Is he a friend? (Clue: Take a look at the clothing of both men.)
What could the woman be handing over to the Redcoat? A love letter? Money? ...
What is her attitude as she hands over the note? Frightened? Submissive? ...
Last Fall I visited the The Quent Cordair Fine Art Gallery in Napa Valley, California. Out of the plethora of paintings that beautifully illuminated the gallery, one in particular especially caught my eye. As I started "reading" it, I started recognizing a moment that I've never seen captured in a painting before--a moment that was exciting and self-affirming to reflect on.
I'd like to share the experience with you by guiding you through a reading the painting with images graciously provided by Linda Cordair. Below are a few questions to help you understand what kind of moment this girl is experiencing--a moment that I hope you will be able to relate to easily. I hope you enjoy this painting by Bryan Larsen as much as I did! What's your first impression of the painting? Can you come up with a quick one-liner to describe what you immediately see? (E.g., girl and statue)
Please click on the images to see a larger version.
Where is this scene taking place?
A museum? A home?
A studio?
(*Remember, in answering each of the questions, be sure to ask yourself the follow-up question, "How do I know that?")
Is the sculpture still being worked on?
Has it been finished? If so, how long has it been?
(*Each general question is followed by helpful follow-up questions or suggestions.)
Who is this girl?
The artist? The patron? The model?
How are the girl in the sculpture and the real girl different?
Immersion: Imagine being able to move around the room to the other side of the sculpture and looking at it: what would you see? How does this view enhance the difference?
Clue: Along with the difference in attire, take a close look at body language.
Immersion: Take the pose of each figure. How do they feel different to you?
What moment is the model experiencing?
Is this her first glimpse of the completed statue? Is this a public viewing?
How is she responding to seeing herself?
Is she disappointed?
Immersion: Quote her. Imagine what she could be thinking to herself.
How can you relate to what the young model is experiencing?
Can you think of a time when you've seen yourself in a way you are not used to--in a way that brings out qualities you don't often get a chance to notice about yourself.
I hope you enjoyed your guided reading, and please feel free to jot some thoughts, feelings, and observations down in the comments section. I will post my own reading soon!
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