Master Collection activity 21: painting the night

Children investigate the Old Master print A Philosopher Writing copied by Le Brun from a famous work by Rembrandt.

They explore paintings, prints and drawings on a night time theme and create their own inspired by what they have seen.

Learning objectives
Increased knowledge and understanding of printmaking, etching, how night scenes are portrayed in art, and the works of Rembrandt.

Curriculum links

KS1-2 Art (printmaking, etching, famous artists, Rembrandt, Van Gogh)

Investigate the Old Master print A Philosopher Writing copied by Le Brun from a famous work by Rembrandt with the whole class. See Learn with Objects Master Collection 21: Le Brun. Discuss the following questions:

Do you think it’s day or night? (it’s night, the only illumination is a small lamp or candle, not visible in the picture)
What’s the person doing? (he’s writing, but writing what?)
What’s he holding in his hand? (a quill, with the feathers cut off)
Is he the only person in the room? (the black shape in the foreground looks like the back of another person)

Explore the theme of night in paintings from the Renaissance to modern art. What are the different reasons artists paint night-time scenes? Look at how famous artists have portrayed the night from Rembrandt to Van Gogh.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_in_paintings_(Western_art)

Look at the dramatic night-time scenes of Naples and Mount Vesuvius at Learn with Objects Master Collection 18: Vesuvius eruptions.

Create your own night-time scene, inside or out, inspired by the work of a famous artist.

Learn with Objects links
Use Learn with Objects Master Collection 21: Le Brun and Master Collection 18: Vesuvius eruptions.