Flippin' Classrooms! Grade 12 Task

Hello Grade 12 students!  Here is your task:

Watch the following documentary on Vincent Van Gogh.  On Monday, we will be discussing the video, the artist, and his work.  I will present you with a series of questions that were generated by your peers that have watched this video previously.  I present the following question to you for your consideration:
If you could travel back in time and could provide Vincent with modern medicine that could alleviate the crippling depression and anxiety that drove him to create his masterpieces, would you?

As you watch this video, I would like you to give serious thought to how devastating mental illness can be.

On Friday, we discussed Van Gogh's "Starry Night", seen below:

The painting was done from memory during the day.  It is somewhat whimsical, showing his view from the sanatorium he committed himself to in May of 1889.  Please consider the following quote from Van Gogh:
"The imagination is certainly a faculty that we must develop and it alone can bring us to a more exulting and consoling nature.  The star-spangled sky, for instance, is a thing that i would like to do.  But how can I manage, unless I make my mind up to work from imagination?"

In the scene is the village of Saint Rémy.  The Alpilles rise to the right.  The cypress tree and hills were not really in the same view; Vincent added those from nearby scenes.  The same tree (or at least very similar tree) can be seen in "Wheatfield with Cypresses":

A debate exists as to whether or not Van Gogh painted this in a literal or literary way:

1) Literal - he either painted it as he saw it, or as a hallucinatory genius.  Astronomers agree that given that it was painted in June, the largest star is the morning star but cannot agree whether or not the constellations shown are Cygnus or Aries.

2) Literary - some believe that he may have drawn his inspiration for this painting from the work of Walk Whitman or Victor Hugo, or perhaps from the Bible (Christ in Gethsemane,  Joseph's dream in Genesis, or even Revelations).  

Whatever the inspiration, it is one of the most recognizable pieces in art history!

Grade 12 Painting Study - "The Liffey Swim"

"The Liffey Swim", painted by Jack Butler Yeats (Willy's slightly less famous brother), captures a scene in Dublin, Ireland, in 1923.  The event itself is an annual event that began in 1920 and runs to this day, though nowadays the Dublin Fire Brigade is there to decontaminate the participants after their swim.

Here are some of the details from our conversation about this painting:
- it is interesting to imagine how this event, then dubbed "the biggest free spectacle of the year", might have served to bring people together at a very difficult time in Dublin's history.  The competitors might have come from all walks of life and backgrounds.
- Yates is said to have painted himself into the composition, seen in the brown fedora next to what might have been his wife Cottie in the yellow hat.
- the position of the audience, leaning heavily toward the swimmers, draws the viewers attention into the race.
- students of art may notice that the use of perspective is not necessarily perfect, allowing more of the race to unfold before your eyes.

What many people do not realize that art, specifically art that captures "Sport", was once an event in the Olympics.  From 1912 to 1948, Olympic medals were awarded to artists who competed on behalf of their country.  Yeats won a silver medal for this piece for Ireland in 1924!

As a parting note, take a moment to survey the brushstrokes used by Yeats in this painting...

Grade 12 Painting Study - The Wounded Poacher

Here are some of the highlights of our discussion of Henry Jones Thaddeus' "The Wounded Poacher" which hangs in the National Gallery in Ireland:

- Thaddeus presents the poacher in a heroic manner, a victim not victimizer, a provider.

- the painting shows a state of commotion: a chair is tipped over, vegetables are knocked off of the table, his gun is thrown haphazardly to the floor, the rabbits he has harvested lay strewn about, his hat is upside down (look for other elements)

- the composition shows many contrasts: the woman caring for him seems soft and angelic next to the poacher who is heavily textured (pants), dirty, and in a terrible way.  Much of the scene is dark compared to the light that falls upon the subjects in the centre.  

- the viewer is reminded of the plight of those that must go without: the food is rudimentary, the table is mended with a stick, his boots are in a poor state, a spoon rather than a decoration hangs on the wall, his pipe is not an expensive pipe, etc. The scene is one of rural simplicity. One might imagine the contrast between the home life of the poacher and the landowner he poached from.  

Closely examine the painting for other elements that you believe help capture the sentiment that the artist was hoping to convey.  

Grade Twelve Painting Study - The Intervention of the Sabine Women

In this study, we reviewed the painting "The Intervention of the Sabine Women".  The artist, Jacques-Louis David, is said to have conceived the painting when imprisoned during the French Revolution.  Some say it was after his wife had visited him in jail, lending itself to the validity of the "love conquers all" theme.  Others believe that he wanted to see an end to the violence in his own country.  Whatever his motive, the painting that he created captures a scene in Roman history where the Sabine women flung themselves into the battle between their Roman husbands and the fathers/brothers from their own Sabine people.

The main subject, shown in a glowing white gown, is Hersilia.  She has put herself between her husband Romulus and her father Titus Tatius, with her children (sons to Romulus, grandchildren to Titus) at her feet.  The painting seems like an epic battle has been frozen in an instant.  There is very little shadow in this painting, as though all the characters receive light equally.  A multitude of combatants fill the background, shown only by their spears and lances.  The women appear to be symbols of purity and hope, bringing the bloody conflict to an abrupt halt.

Historically, the Roman men wanted wives to bear them children.  It is said that they abducted the Sabine women to become their wives.  Whether they were abducted or married the Romans of their own free will has been debated for centuries, but this time period in history has long been a hot topic for artists, particularly during the Renaissance.  Here are some famous works depicting this history:

Pietro de Cortona, "Rape of the Sabine Women"

Giambolgna, "Rape of the Sabine Women".

Grade Twelve Painting Study - The Raft of the Medusa

The painting that we studied today finds its subject in the aftermath of the wreck of the French frigate "Méduse", painted by Theodore Géricault.  We analyzed this work in two ways: The Event and The Artist and His Work.

The Event
- the frigate left France in July of 1816
- due to poor navigation and inexperience on behalf of the captain, it ran aground on a sand-bank of the coast of modern Mauritania
- 240 men, the "upper echelon" of those aboard, occupied the lift boats after the wreck
- the remaining approx. 140 men (and one woman) were put on a raft that was hastily constructed.  It is said the raft was the size of a tennis court
- the boats were supposed to surround, protect, and tow the raft.
- after a few miles, however, the raft was cut loose and those aboard were left to the elements, the mercy of an angry ocean!
- those aboard became dehydrated, starved, and crazed...resorting to murder and cannibalism

The Artist and His Work
Géricault was young and sought to make his mark in the art world.  He chose this subject because he knew the attention that it would generate.  This was a modern event, fresh in the mind and psyché of the french public, and he knew that this work would garner attention.  He prepared extensively:
- he met with survivors to get every detail of the raft in its final stages
- he studied corpses and even took limbs to his study to observe and paint the colours and stages of decay
- he studied and sketched the faces of dying patients

He finally locked himself away in nearly total seclusion.  He shaved his head and led a monastic life, totally obsessed and dedicated to his project.  He was reviled by those around him, driving himself to the brink of madness to capture the human tragedy in the piece.  The process took about 8 months to complete.  He sketched in pencil the overall composition, then studied models one at a time and added them to the piece with stunning realism.  When the painting was revealed to the public it was met with praise for its stunning realism, and horror and criticism at the ghoulishness of the scene.  The final painting is quite large, at roughly 5 x 7 meters!

This painting is considered a good representation of French Romaniticism, focusing on intense emotion (apprehension, terror, awe).

The artist died very young at the age of 34, due to poor health from riding injuries and tubercular complications.  

Grade 9 and 10 Literacy Activity

This is the literacy activity that we will be completing Wednesday, March 5.  This should prove to be an effective preparation for the multiple choice and short answer portion of the upcoming OSSLT.

Why Did Leonardo da Vinci Paint "The Last Supper"?

Because his employer requested he do so. Leonardo da Vinci worked for Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, for nearly 18 years (1482-99). The Duke decided he wanted this particular religious scene of Jesus and the Apostles at the Last Supper painted and Leonardo, who was not stupid, decided painting it made perfect financial sense.

How Big Is It?

It's huge, really -- 460 x 880 cm (15 x 29 feet). It covers an entire large wall, very unlike reproductions sized to hang neatly behind one's sofa.

Where Is It?

The original mural is on a wall of the refectory (dining hall) in the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy.

If you'd care to see a reproduction, they're easily found. As an image, "The Last Supper" is the most reproduced religious painting of all time and has been put on everything from mirrors, to mouse pads, to musical pillows. If Leonardo were still around, he'd be earning billions of (insert your currency here) on licensing fees alone.

How Long Did It Take Leonardo To Paint This?

He began working on it in 1495, and finished "The Last Supper" in 1498. This is worth noting, as Leonardo was a known procrastinator with a marked tendency to leave projects unfinished.

Why Is the Composition Remarkable?

First, it is remarkable because the disciples are all displaying very human, identifiable emotions. "The Last Supper" had certainly been painted before. Leonardo's version, though, was the first to depict real people acting like real people.

Secondly, and of major importance -- the technical perspective in "The Last Supper" is incredible. You can see that every single element of the painting directs one's attention straight to the midpoint of the composition, Christ's head. It's arguably the greatest example of one point perspective ever created.

What Does Last Supper Depict?

"The Last Supper" is Leonardo's visual interpretation of an event chronicled in all four of the Gospels (books in the Christian New Testament). The evening before Christ was betrayed by one of his disciples, he gathered them together to eat, tell them he knew what was coming and wash their feet (a gesture symbolizing that all were equal under the eyes of the Lord). As they ate and drank together, Christ gave the disciples explicit instructions on how to eat and drink in the future, in remembrance of him. It was the first celebration of the Eucharist, a ritual still performed.

Specifically, "The Last Supper" depicts the next few seconds in this story after Christ dropped the bombshell that one disciple would betray him before sunrise, and all 12 reacted to the news with different degrees of horror, anger and shock.

Who's In It?

Looking across the picture from left to right:

• Bartholomew, James Minor and Andrew form a group of three. All are aghast, Andrew to the point of holding his hands up in a "stop!" gesture.

• Judas, Peter and John form the next group of three. Judas, you will note, has his face in shadow and is clutching a small bag (of silver?). Peter is visibly angry and a feminine-looking John seems about to swoon.

• Christ is the calm in the midst of the storm.

• Thomas, James Major and Philip are next. Thomas is clearly agitated, James Major stunned and Philip seems to be seeking clarification.

• Matthew, Thaddeus and Simon comprise the last group of three figures. It appears that, when a situation turns ugly, Simon is the "go to" guy for explanations.

Why Is It Falling Apart?

Leonardo, always the inventor, tried using new materials for "The Last Supper." Instead of using tempera on wet plaster (the preferred method of fresco painting, and one which had worked successfully for centuries), he thought he'd give using dry plaster a whirl. His experiment resulted in a more varied palette, which was his intent. What he hadn't taken into account (because, who knew?) was that this method wasn't at all durable. The painted plaster began to flake off the wall almost immediately, and people have been attempting to restore it ever since.

Why Doesn't Jesus Have Feet?

Rest assured, Leonardo intended for Christ to have feet and, in fact, painted them. Around 1650, some unnamed, woefully misguided soul -- on a mission to insert another door into the refectory -- apparently decided that the only logical spot for said door was smack dab in the middle of that wall. We probably shouldn't grumble and just consider ourselves lucky that he wasn't engineering windows.

Check out this early copy to see some of the features that were lost or destroyed over time:

 Multiple Choice Questions:

1) A “refectory” is a:

a church.

b bridge.

c dining hall.

d church painting.

2) “The Last Supper” took how many years to complete?

a three.

b four.

c five.

d six.

3) Which event, in the following list of events surrounding the last supper, occurred last?

a Christ gathered his disciples to eat.

b Christ gave disciples specific instructions on how to drink and eat in the future.

c Christ was betrayed by one of his disciples.

d Christ washed his disciples feet.

4) You can see that every single element of the painting directs one's attention to the midpoint of the composition.  This is an example of: 

a random focus.

b effective use of space.

c proportion.

d technical perspective.

5) Which word is closest in meaning to “procrastinator” as used in paragraph 5? 

a dawdler

b artistic genius

c philanthropist

d philosopher

Response Questions.  Choose one of the following and answer in the space provided.

1. Are there details in the illustration that are not mentioned in the text? What are they? Are there details in the text left out of the illustration?
2. Do the illustrations provide any conflicting information? What? Why?
3. What is the perspective of the illustration? Do we see the scene from the point of view of someone in the text? Which character? You, the reader?
4. Who is in the illustration? Everyone mentioned in the text? Who’s in and who’s out? Who is looking at whom? Why?
5. How are the relationships of the characters depicted? Who is standing close? Who is far away? What do the expressions on their faces convey?
6. Where are the characters looking? At the action? At each other? At something else?
7. What do the characters know that we (the reader) do not know?
8. What do we learn about the setting from the illustration? Are we looking straight on? Airplane view? Why?

Everybody's working on the weekend....

...but no one more than Brendon B.  Check out this rendition of the facade of the Cathedral of Florence, with Brunelleschi's Duomo rising in the background.  Nice work!