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Early American Portraits
The subjects of art vary from artist to artist. They can range
from a painting of a busy rehearsal in a cramped dance studio
to a photograph of a calm desert in the morning light. The choice
of subjects depends upon what kind of story the artist wants
to tell and show their audience.
One of the most important subjects that an artist can choose
is the portrait. Portraits are not just a reflection of what
the person looks like but also of how the artist interprets the
individual and the world around them. It is perhaps the most
personal story that the artist can tell and makes the portrait
one of art's most important subjects.
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Your task
Break up into groups of five. Pretend that you work for the
St. Louis Museum of Art as an art collector. The museum curator
has asked you to take charge of the upcoming "Early American
Portrait Art Gallery: A Meditation on the Promise and Reality
of American Culture". Your job is to look for the portraits
of at least 5 artists to hang in the gallery. Keep in mind that
the more portraits you find the better the gallery will turn
out. Also, you might look beyond the studio portrait as an example
of portraiture. For example, some subjects might best be defined
in a rural setting or even as part of a group scene or landscape.
What you need to find out
You need to write down the following things about the self-portraits
you find:
1. The name of the artist
2. Their nationality
3. When was the portrait done or when did the artist lived. (Late
1700's-1800's)
4. What kind of art does it represent (i.e. Romanticism, Neo-Classicism,
Miniaturist, Engraver, Oval Portraits, etc)
5. What medium is it in (i.e. paint, pencil)?
6. Where is the portrait located?
7. Write a short description of the portrait (What does the subject
look like? What is the setting of the piece? How big is it ?
What is the subject doing? Are there any items in the painting
that show the subject status or habits or character?)
Presentation: Finally, assemble your information in
a PowerPoint presentation where you argue for your selections
inclusion into the new collection. Be sure to include why your
portraits most represent early America, its meaning and myths.
Where to go?
To help you start the museum curator gives you this list
of places to go to.
General Resources
Individual Artists
Web Resources
Good Luck & Happy Hunting!
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