Artist Study
Ambleside Online has an extensive list of artists and works for study on their Artist Rotation Schedule.
One of our favorite ways to address studying a piece of art is based on John Muir Laws’ method of studying nature with deliberate attention and curiosity. “I Notice, I Wonder, It Reminds Me Of.”
National Gallery of Art
These are links to the galleries that contain pieces we have studied.
- Woman Holding a Balance
- Agrippina and Germanicus
- Decius Mus Addressing the Legions
- The Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek
- The Meeting of David and Abigail
- The Junction of the Thames and the Medway
- Mortlake Terrace
- Rotterdam Ferry-Boat
- Venice: The Dogana and San Giorgio Maggiore
- Keelmen Heaving in Coals by Moonlight
- Approach to Venice
Art Prints
Before we do an artist study, I find pictures on Wikipedia for the artist, download them to my computer, and upload to an office store website for printing. The prints turn out a lot better this way, and my printer ink is saved. (It’s also quite cheap, usually $0.50 per print.)
Some tips on getting good quality prints:
On the Wiki page for an artist, click on a piece of art. It should enlarge the picture. Click on “More Details;” that link will take you to a jpg file in Wikimedia Commons. Below the image, look for “Original File.” The original should be the highest resolution image available. Right click on the image and save it.
When you have prints made, choose:
- Cardstock
- Matte finish (not glossy)
Here is an example for Giotto, the first artist in the book.
Wiki page on Giotto. Click on art in bottom right corner.
“Nativity.” Click on More Details in bottom right corner.
Wikimedia Commons file. Click on “Original File” under picture.
Original File. Right click on picture and save image.
Other Resources
Discovering Great Artists by MaryAnn Kohl
Eclectic Ed 