In previous years we have used the beautiful season of Advent to finish the term with different Christmas themed units. Last year our unit was based on natural Christmas decorations and the previous year we looked at the symbols of Advent.
This year we studied nativity scenes in Renaissance Art. In my history degree I am quickly discovering that I have a love for art history, so sharing this enjoyment was the motivation behind the unit.
We started the whole project with the Advent Wreath.
The children designed their candles, representing hope, peace, love and joy.
Botticelli's halos. Botticelli's halo are particularly ornate and look like a fine wire mesh. We looked at some of his work and attempted to replicate his designs.
Raphael's cherubs in his painting, The Sistine Madonna, are now famous in their own right. The kiddies have spotted them all over the place (Christmas cards, magnets, mugs). We made some simple Christmas cherubs while we talked about his work.
Leonardo da Vinci's fingers. Leonardo da Vinci paints pointing fingers in lots of his paintings. We discovered that it is REALLY HARD to draw fingers!!
Michelangelo's faces. Michelangelo painted 300 faces in the Sistine Chapel and not one of them is the same. We marveled at this incredible feat and used a YouTube video to learn how to draw faces with the correct dimensions.
Titian and his tutor, Giovanni Bellini, worked together on some paintings. We discussed how, for art historians, it must be a hard task differentiating between two similar artists.
With this in mind the children designed some pictures on wooden blocks (Titian painted on wood), passed the block to a fellow sibling who added more designs, and then the third sibling had to decipher whose work was whose.
As an apprentice in Bellini's workshop, Titian would have made his own paints. We spent two weeks dropping vinegar onto a copper penny which was also exposed to air, to make copper oxide. This was how Titian would have made blue. It worked a treat and was a cool experiment.
Christmas wreaths by Ballet Girl and Monkey Girl, courtesy of our lovely farmer friend, with whom they spent a happy afternoon.
Mince pies, Paul Hollywood style
Christmas ready :)
