In establishing standards of art appreciation, as well as those of music, we must not lose sight of the story interests of childhood, because many a picture that is a great artistic achievement is not suitable to present to little children. The “Venus and Cupid” of Velasquez is a glorious masterpiece, but we cannot expect little folk to admire it any more than we can expect those in the rhythmic period to listen to a King Arthur story and ask to hear it again. As the little child does not know Venus and Cupid, a portrayal of them means nothing to him. But he does know horses and dogs and cats. He knows other children and babies and mothers, and therefore he enjoys pictures of animal and child life and will be interested in hearing about their portrayers.
Sir Joshua Reynolds is an excellent artist to begin with, because his best work is built around themes dear to the heart of childhood. His “Age of Innocence,” “Infant Samuel,” “Robinetta,” “Heads of Angels,” “Simplicity,” and “The Strawberry Girl” are ideal works to present to the small child, and this painter’s early years make a charming story.
Sir Edwin Landseer is another artist with whom we can acquaint little children, through the following works: “Uncle Tom and His Wife for Sale,” “Low Life and High Life,” “Dignity and Impudence,” “A Distinguished Member of the Humane Society,” “The Sick Monkey,” “King Charles Spaniels,” and many other paintings, all of which will be loved by children because they love the subjects.
Rosa Bonheur and her paintings should be used in this period. Children are especially fond of “The Horse Fair,” “Coming from the Fair,” “Brittany Sheep,” “Highland Cattle,” and “A Norman Sire.” In fact, everything this painter created, like all the work of Landseer, is fraught with interest to the child, because she was solely a portrayer of animal life.
An artist of whom little folk have been taught almost nothing is Gainsborough. Usually we think of him only as a portrait painter, because in America his likenesses of women are better known than his other pictures. But it is a mistake to associate him only with “the dashing, smashing hats worn by the Duchess of Devonshire.” Until recently only Americans who had traveled in England had an opportunity of seeing or knowing the greater part of this artist’s other work, because the British copyright law protected much of it in such a way that cheap prints could not be made. Now, however, it is possible to get good reproductions of these long-protected Gainsboroughs at a very reasonable price. Most valuable of the works of this artist to use with little children are the following: “The Market Cart,” “The Watering Place,” “Two Dogs,” “Rustic Children,” and “Study of an Old Horse.”
Murillo is an ideal painter to introduce to the little child, because his childhood story is as fascinating as his creations are glorious. Children never tire of hearing about this joyous little Spanish boy, and of the time when he transformed the family picture, turning the halo of the Christ-child into a gorgeous sombrero, and making a dog of the sheep. As they laugh or sympathize with the wonder child of Seville and feel something of the charm of life in that old city, its street children, immortalized on canvas by its most illustrious son, become comrades because little Bartolome sometimes played with them and big Bartolome painted them. There is a long list of this master’s works from which to choose, but the following are particularly enjoyed: “Mother and Child,” “The Adoration of the Shepherds,” “St. John and the Lamb,” “The Melon Eaters,” “The Dice Players,” “Beggar Boys,” “The Good Shepherd,” “The Marriage of St. Catherine,” and “The Immaculate Conception.” No attempt should be made to interpret the two last-named pictures. Familiarize little people with them and lead them to see their beauty, but waive all idea of religious symbolism until years bring maturity of thought and the child makes his own interpretation.
All Madonna pictures are interesting to little children, so by all means acquaint them with Raphael, the king. Let them drink in the beauty of “The Sistine Madonna,” “The Madonna of the Chair,” “The Madonna of the Goldfinch,” and as many others as can be obtained. The story of Raphael belongs more properly in the intermediate period than in the very early one, because so little is known of this painter’s life before he began his career. Just tell the children of the little boy who lived in far-away Urbino long, long ago. His mother died when he was a wee little fellow, and he lived alone with his father, who was very kind to him. Instead of playing much, as the other children did, he loved to sit and listen to stories about saints and good people who lived before his time. He loved to draw pictures, too, and when he grew to be a man he became a wonderful painter.
Closely following Raphael may come Correggio, through his “Holy Night,” “Repose in Egypt,” and “Cherubs.”
Van Dyck, too, may be made familiar to little children. From his works choose “Children of Charles I” and several details from this picture—“Baby Stuart,” “Charles II,” and “Henrietta.” But present first the complete picture, so that when “Baby Stuart” is seen the children will know that it is only part of a painting. Many a grown person does not realize that it is a detail from another work, and this fact should be understood by every child who sees the royal baby. Other works by this artist suitable to introduce to tiny people are “The Repose in Egypt,” “Madonna and Child,” and “The Donators.”