The Main Lesson theme, the Renaissance period, serves as a wonderful thread to weave into artistic lessons. The word “Renaissance” means “rebirth”, and was a period spanning from the 14th to the 17th century in Europe. This era bridged the time between the Middle Ages and modern times. The values and ideals popular during the European Renaissance are secular humanistic: secular means social rather than religious/church-based, and humanism is focusing on the study and progress of human nature.
In the Class 7 art lessons, the children worked with perspective drawing, finally leading to examining the great masters: Michelangelo, Leonardo, Botticelli and Raphael. One of the most immense advances in art was the development of linear perspective. Renaissance artists were fundamentally concerned with painting realistic scenes, and by using linear perspective they found a consistent method to accomplish this realism.
As a closing task for the term, the Class 7s were asked to recreate one of the works of the great masters of the Renaissance. They were challenged to work in different mediums and encouraged to choose a work that spoke to them and engaged some of the techniques explored over the term. The results were captivating and will be on exhibit in the Movement Room in the fourth term.
Bonnie Webb, Class 2 teacher