7th Grade Art Critics

by Jennifer Jordan, History & Latin

In conjunction with our study of the Renaissance in World History, 7th graders simulated the experience of an art gallery walk in class today. 

Photos of four paintings by the Venetian artist Titian were posted around the classroom. Either singly or in pairs, students studied each painting and responded to questions about the paintings’ subjects, settings, and emotions captured by the artwork. Students also considered the choice of colors used by Titian in each painting to determine how color affected the purpose of the piece. Students then discussed with a partner their individual responses about emotion and the impact of color. Everyone enjoyed moving about the room, pretending they were in a notable art gallery in Venice, and probably not realizing that they were practicing critical analysis, an important skill we strengthen through our study of primary sources in History class.