Lesson Sixteen

Integrated Concepts Language Arts: oral language, descriptive language Social Studies: roles in society Visual Art: portraits, texture, background, color, detail, space

When an artist makes a painting or drawing intended to

represent

an

individual

, it is called a

portrait

.

A portrait usually presents an

image

that can be

recognized

as the

individual

the artist is portraying, but it may not look exactly like that person. The title is often something like “A Portrait of Mary Smith”.

Both of these paintings are portraits.

Let’s take some time to look carefully at these paintings. The one on the left is titled, “Portrait of a Gentleman”.

The one on the right is called, “Portrait of Ruth DeWitt”.

Can you find any

evidence

to help you predict when each of these portraits was painted. For

clues

, look at clothing, hair styles, background.

Can you spot any clues to

indicate

the setting of these paintings?

Can you

compare and contrast

the two portraits? How are they

alike

? How are they

different

?

Look carefully at color, texture, space, and light.

Can you make

predictions

about these people from looking at their portraits? What are their

roles in society

? •Are they

parents

? Do they have a large or small family?

•Do they have

jobs

? What kind of work do they do? •Are the

rich or poor

? Support your answers.

Think about your school pictures. They are portraits of you. How are they alike or different from these portraits?

Do your school portraits have a painted background or can you see what was really behind you when the picture was taken?

About how long does it take for the

photographer

to make your portrait at school? How would you feel about sitting still long enough for an artist to paint or draw a portrait of you?

Before cameras were invented, the only way people could have a portrait or themselves or a friend or family member was to ask an artist to draw or paint it for them. Now, most people use camera to make portraits or pictures, but some people still like to have their portrait painted by an artist.

Which would you prefer? Tell why.

Information about the art and the artists

Title: “Portrait of a Gentleman” Artist/Dates: Jacob Marling, American, 1744-1833 Medium: oil on board Size: 27” x 21.5” Date: 1824 Title: “Portrait of Ruth DeWitt” Artist/Dates: Vollian Rann, American, 1898-1956 Medium: pastel Size: 16” x 14” Date: 1947-48

What else would you like to know about the art or the artists?

How can you find out?