The church was near the river, and after church Joshua went down to the river bank. Finding a piece of an old sail, he carried it to a boathouse. Here, from the picture on his thumb nail, he drew on the piece of sail the portrait of the minister. Then he painted it, using the common paint that is used in painting boats. Joshua was only eleven years old, and had finished his first oil painting. His father had wanted him to be a doctor, but after seeing this picture he decided to let Joshua have his own way and be a painter. He sent him to a good teacher, and lived to see his son a great artist.
Questions about the artist. Who painted this picture? Where did he go to school? Who taught him? What did he like to do best? On what did he draw? Why was his father disappointed when he saw his number paper? Where were the children allowed to draw? With what did they draw? What did he draw that pleased his father very much? Tell about the picture of the minister.
TWO MOTHERS AND THEIR
FAMILIES
Artist: Elizabeth Gardner Bouguereau (b[=oo]´gẽrō´´).
Birthplace: Exeter, New Hampshire.
Dates: Born, 1842. Still living, 1918.
Questions to arouse interest. What do you see in this picture? In what room do you think they are? Why do you suppose the picture is called "Two Mothers and Their Families"? How many little chickens are there? What time of the year do you think it is? time of day? What is the little boy doing? How many of you like this picture? why?
The story of the picture. This little boy is having a good time feeding the fluffy little chickens. He has scattered some grain on the floor and the old hen and eight of her chicks are eating as fast as they can.