The Art of Albrecht Dürer

Albrecht Dürer

1471 - 1528

Self-Portrait in Fur Coat

1500

Oil on panel, 67 x 49 cm 

Alte Pinakothek, Munich

Self Portrait at 26

1498

Oil on panel, 52 x 41 cm

Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid

Christ Among the Doctors

1506

Oil on panel, 65 x 80 cm

Fundacion Coleccion Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid

St Peter And St John Healing The Cripple

1513

Engraving, 118 x 74 mm

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Hands of the Apostle

1508, Sketch

A Young Hare

1502

Watercolor and gouache on paper, 25 x 23 cm

Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna

The Last Supper

1523; Wood Block: 21 x 30 cm

Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

Writing Assignment #1: Choose one of these pictures (other than the two self portraits) and write a descriptive paragraph.  Include a topic sentence, at least three sentences containing supporting details, and a conclusion sentence.  The topic sentence may contain the information supplied above each painting, such as when it was created, what kind of art it is, or what museum now owns it.  The three supporting detail sentences need to be your own observations about what is in the painting.  The conclusion should include your opinion about the piece.

Writing Assignment #2: Write a paragraph that compares the two self portraits.  The topic sentence will identify both paintings and make a statement of your opinion or observation about them.  The three supporting detail sentences will explain your topic sentence with specific examples.  The conclusion will restate your opinion in different words.

Paintings about the Story of Daniel

These six drawings and paintings are from the Biblical story of Daniel. They are part of a literature assignment for the 7th-8th Grade English class in the school week of September 14-18, 2009. Write a sentence for each of the five paintings telling some details that you notice.

Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, Selects Several Youths to Learn Babylonian Ways by Stemler

Daniel Refuses to Eat the King's Delicacies The illustration is found in "Standard Bible Story Readers, Book Three and Four" by Lillie A. Faris, published by The Standard Publishing Company, 1926 and 1927, and illustrated by O. A. Stemler and Bess Bruce Cleaveland.


The Fourth One Looks Like a God by Annie Vallotton (from the Good News Bible)


Belshazzar's Feast by Rembrandt, 1635 National Gallery, London

Daniel in the Lion's Den by Peter Paul Rubens, National Gallery of Art



The Vision of the Four Beasts from Daniel by Stephanus Garsias Placidus 11th Century

Paintings about the Story of Esther

The titles, artists, years, and links for the three paintings above are...

The Triumph of Mordecai by Pieter Pietersz Lastman, 1624

The Banquet of Esther and Ahasueras by Jan Victors 1670

The Death of Haman, unknown artist, 1372

The three paintings shown here are from the Biblical story of Esther. They are part of a literature assignment for the 7th-8th Grade English class in the school week of September 14-18, 2009. There are three more paintings that I can't copy into this blog post. Right click on the links and open new windows to see the pictures. Then write a sentence for each of the five paintings telling some details that you notice.

Ahasueras Sends Vashti Away by Marc Chagall, 1960 and Esther by Marc Chagall, 1960 Note: Marc Chagall was a Russian born Jew who settled in France. During the 1940's, an American diplomat named Harry Bingham persuaded Chagall to flee France, giving him an unauthorized visa, as he did for hundreds of others. So Chagall could certainly relate to the story of Esther rescuiing the Jews. Chagall wrote: "Ever since my earliest youth I have been fascinated by the Bible. I have always believed that it is the greatest source of poetry of all time...The Bible is an echo of nature, and this I have endeavoured to transmit.... In art everything is possible, so long as it is based on love." You can read more here: Bingham's List: Saving the Jews of Nazi France.

Haman Begging Esther for Mercy by Rembrandt van Rijn, 1655

P.S. Note the similarities between the Jan Victors painting above and the Jan Lievens painting below, which is from 1625. Jan Lievens painted at about the same time as Rembrandt (whose painting "Haman Begging Esther for Mercy" is linked above) -- and this painting by Lievens was thought to have been painted by Rembrandt until this past century. I found it an article about it in the Smithsonian Magazine March 2009 issue, which you can read on-line here: Out of Rembrandt's Shadow by Matthew Gurewitsch.

For Such A Time As This Wayne Watson @ Yahoo! Video

Painting of Joseph and His Brothers

"Joseph Reveals His Identity" by Peter von Cornelius, German, 1783-1867

This picture is used in the 7th-8th grade English assignments for the second week of homework.

1. 
   
   Where is Joseph in this picture?
   
   
   
2. 
   
   Describe at least three people in this picture. Include their posture, expressions, and what they might be thinking.
   
   
   
3. 
   
   What is in the background of the picture?