UNIT 3

Development Tasks. Express Yourself!

Assumption of the Virgin

Task 1. Pretend that you work as a guide in a museum. Tell the tourists the most interesting facts about the picture “Assumption of the Virgin” by Rubens.

NOTE 1: Make use of prompts 1 (prompt questions), 2 (a plan of a picture description) or 3 (a sample description) depending on your readiness to describe a European painting.

KEY NOTE: If you find describing a picture a rather challenging task for yourself, please, refer to the following texts for information about the main tendencies of European painting in the 17th-18th centuries including the specific features of Mannerism, Academism, Caravaggism, the Baroque and the formation of the English school of painting, and also about the composition – an essential element of painting.

The Night Watch

TASK 2. You and your friend have come to the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Your friend has to write an article about Rembrandt and is eager to know about him. Share your knowledge of his style with your friend

NOTE 2: Make use of prompts 1 (prompt questions), 2 (a plan of a picture description) or 3 (a sample description) depending on your readiness to describe a European painting.

KEY NOTE: If you find describing a picture a rather challenging task for yourself, please, refer to the following texts for information about the main tendencies of European painting in the 17th-18th centuries including the specific features of Mannerism, Academism, Caravaggism, the Baroque and the formation of the English school of painting, and also about the composition – an essential element of painting.

The Triumph of Bacchus

Task 3: Pretend that you work as a guide in a world famous Museo del Prado in Madrid. Tell the group of tourists about Diego Velasquez’s picture “The Triumph of Bacchus”.

NOTE 3: Make use of prompts 1 (prompt questions), 2 (a plan of a picture description) or 3 (a sample description) depending on your readiness to describe a European painting.

KEY NOTE: If you find describing a picture a rather challenging task for yourself, please, refer to the following texts for information about the main tendencies of European painting in the 17th-18th centuries including the specific features of Mannerism, Academism, Caravaggism, the Baroque and the formation of the English school of painting, and also about the composition – an essential element of painting.

                                                                       

The Lute Player

Task 4: Give a talk on your favourite European painting – “The Lute Player” by Caravaggio offering good reasons for your preference.

NOTE 4: Make use of prompts 1 (prompt questions), 2 (a plan of a picture description) or 3 (a sample description) depending on your readiness to describe a European painting.

KEY NOTE: If you find describing a picture a rather challenging task for yourself, please, refer to the following texts for information about the main tendencies of European painting in the 17th-18th centuries including the specific features of Mannerism, Academism, Caravaggism, the Baroque and the formation of the English school of painting, and also about the composition – an essential element of painting.

Marriage à-la-mode

1. The Marriage Settlement

TASK 5: While looking through a magazine your friend and you came across a picture “Marriage settlement” by William Hogarth. Your friend asks you to describe the picture as she (he) doesn’t know much about it.

NOTE 5: Make use of prompts 1 (prompt questions), 2 (a plan of a picture description) or 3 (a sample description) depending on your readiness to describe a British painting.

KEY NOTE: If you find describing a picture a rather challenging task for yourself, please, refer to the following texts for information about the main tendencies of European painting in the 17th-18th centuries including the specific features of Mannerism, Academism, Caravaggism, the Baroque and the formation of the English school of painting, and also about the composition – an essential element of painting.

Mrs. Siddons as the Tragic Muse

TASK 6: Act as a guide at the exhibition of Sir Joshua Reynolds. Dwell upon his style and describe his masterpiece “MRS.  SIDDONS AS THE TRAGIC MUSE”.

NOTE 6: Make use of prompts 1 (prompt questions), 2 (a plan of a picture description) or 3 (a sample description) depending on your readiness to describe a British painting.

KEY NOTE: If you find describing a picture a rather challenging task for yourself, please, refer to the following texts for information about the main tendencies of European painting in the 17th-18th centuries including the specific features of Mannerism, Academism, Caravaggism, the Baroque and the formation of the English school of painting, and also about the composition – an essential element of painting.

“Mr. and Mrs. Andrews”

TASK 7. You are to give a lecture on British Painting. Talk on Thomas Gainsborough, his style and his masterpiece “Mr. and Mrs. Andrews”.

NOTE 7: Make use of prompts 1 (prompt questions), 2 (a plan of a picture description) or 3 (a sample description) depending on your readiness to describe a British painting.

KEY NOTE: If you find describing a picture a rather challenging task for yourself, please, refer to the following texts for information about the main tendencies of European painting in the 17th-18th centuries including the specific features of Mannerism, Academism, Caravaggism, the Baroque and the formation of the English school of painting, and also about the composition – an essential element of painting.

 “Whistlejacket”

TASK 8. Give a mini-lecture on one of the most glittering representative of British Painting – George Stubbs.

NOTE 8: Make use of prompts 1 (prompt questions), 2 (a plan of a picture description) or 3 (a sample description) depending on your readiness to describe a British painting.

KEY NOTE: If you find describing a picture a rather challenging task for yourself, please, refer to the following texts for information about the main tendencies of European painting in the 17th-18th centuries including the specific features of Mannerism, Academism, Caravaggism, the Baroque and the formation of the English school of painting, and also about the composition – an essential element of painting.

Dedham Vale

TASK 9. Pretend that you are a student of an art school, this morning you listened to a lecture of a professor of the university about art and style of John Constable and his famous picture “Dedham Vale”. Now you are to tell your groupmate who missed the lecture what you learned this morning.

NOTE 9: Make use of prompts 1 (prompt questions), 2 (a plan of a picture description) or 3 (a sample description) depending on your readiness to describe a British painting.

KEY NOTE: If you find describing a picture a rather challenging task for yourself, please, refer to the following texts for information about the main tendencies of European painting in the 17th-18th centuries including the specific features of Mannerism, Academism, Caravaggism, the Baroque and the formation of the English school of painting, and also about the composition – an essential element of painting.

The Slave Ship

TASK 10. You’ve just visited an exhibition where you observed a world-famous masterpiece “The Slave Ship” by William Turner. Describe the picture for your friend.

NOTE 10: Make use of prompts 1 (prompt questions), 2 (a plan of a picture description) or 3 (a sample description) depending on your readiness to describe a British painting.

KEY NOTE: If you find describing a picture a rather challenging task for yourself, please, refer to the following texts for information about the main tendencies of European painting in the 17th-18th centuries including the specific features of Mannerism, Academism, Caravaggism, the Baroque and the formation of the English school of painting, and also about the composition – an essential element of painting.