Results:

Students will:
1. examine two Medieval and two Renaissance paintings;
2. analyze the differences between the paintings;
3. describe and interpret their reactions to the four paintings;
4. practice their internet skills.

Evaluation/Assessment:

1. students will hand in a worksheet of guided questions and reaction statement.
2. guided questions will be assessed by completion.
3. reaction statement will be assessed by the following criteria:
-student compares the paintings from the two eras;
-student states how the paintings reflect changes in knowledge and society.

Curriculum:

This assignment fits well with a course studying Western Civilization or Art History.  Applicable NCSS Standards include Strand I - Culture and Strand II - Time, Continuity, and Change.  Students also gain the opportunity to work on their internet skills.

Instruction:

1. Remind students of the rules when working in the computer lab.
2. Hand out assignment sheet (attached) and go over questions.
3. Take class in an orderly fashion to the computer lab.
4. Have each student sit at their own computer (you may have a prearranged seating chart).
5. Have students call up a blank browser page.  Assist students where necessary.
6. Instruct students to type in the following URL:

http://www.nga.gov/cgi-bin/pimage?285+0+0+gg1

7. Once image has fully loaded, have students go back to the URL and change it to the following (do not open a new blank browser window):

http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/rh/img/april.jpg

8. Once new image has loaded, have students check the back and forward buttons.  They should be able to toggle between the two images.
9. Return to second image and then repeat step seven with the following URL:

http://www.southern.net/wm/paint/auth/tintoretto/st-george-dragon.jpg

10. Once image has loaded, repeat step seven with the following URL (HINT: they only need to delete tintoretto/st-george-dragon.jpg and replace it with bruegel/dance.jpg):

http://www.southern.net/wm/paint/auth/bruegel/dance.jpg

11. Once last image has loaded, have students again check their back and forward buttons.
12. Instruct students to move back to the first image and then begin working on the questions on the assignment sheet.
13. Circulate about the lab to assist students.
 
 

The four images you have are in the order of their creation:

1311 - Bouninsegna - The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew
1416 - Limbourg Brothers - Tres Riches Heures, April

1558 - Tintoretto - St George and the dragon
1568 - Bruegel - Peasants’ Dance

1311 - Bouninsegna:
1. What is the subject of this painting?

2. Describe the amount of detail (HINT: look at the sky to start).
 
 
 

1416 - Limbourg Brothers:
1. Who are the figures in this painting?  What class?  How “real” do they seem?

2. Thinking in 3D, what evidence of depth do you see? (HINT: look at the wall on the right and the people)
 
 
 

1558 - Tintoretto:
1. How does the sky compare to the two previous paintings?

2. Note the figures in this painting (especially the body beneath the horse).  What sort of knowledge might be needed in order to paint these subjects?

3. Compare the figures in this painting with those in the previous two.  What techniques are used to add depth and realism?
 
 
 

1568 - Bruegel:
1. Scroll around to take in the whole painting.  Who are the subjects of this painting?

2. Note the buildings.  Compare with the Limbourg Brothers painting (two clicks back).  What techniques are used to make this painting more realistic?

3. Scroll to the lower right corner of the painting.  What types of detail do you see?  What is significant about these details?
 
 
 

Reaction Question:
Comparing the paintings from the two eras, state how the paintings reflect changes in knowledge and society.
 
 
 
 
 
 

http://www.nga.gov/cgi-bin/pimage?285+0+0+gg1
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/rh/img/april.jpg
http://www.southern.net/wm/paint/auth/tintoretto/st-george-dragon.jpg
http://www.southern.net/wm/paint/auth/bruegel/dance.jpg
 
 

Go back to Dave's Portfolio

Go back to Dave's Webpage