The interest of children in works of art, if unguided, usually lasts only for a moment. Let some one, however, begin to talk about the picture and the child fixes eager eyes upon it and follows every word with breathless attention. "Talking about a picture is simply letting a picture talk," and many of these pictures are volumes in themselves which one must read carefully to know all they are meant to tell. The following paragraphs furnish questions and suggest lines of study which will often open the door of the child's mind to artistic appreciation.

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Talking about Pictures

What painter of Madonnas was called the "peasant painter of Spain"? [30 G.B.]
There are four Madonnas by this artist in "The Golden Book" [30 G.B.], [348 G.B.], [436 G.B.], [450 G.B.]

Which two most resemble each other?


How do even these two differ?


Which is thought to be the most beautiful of all?


Which is your favorite? Why?

Find the one painted without the child.

Did you notice two little seraphs that are in almost the same position on pages [436 G.B.] and [450 G.B.]?

In which of the pictures do you think the painter has shown the most loving mother?


Describe some other children's pictures painted by this great man.[336 G.B.], [480 G.B.]
Who is generally considered the greatest of all painters?[220 G.B.]
Name the most famous Madonna in the world. [220 G.B.]

(Notice how lines drawn from the head of the Madonna to the heads of the two supporting figures and across their base make a triangle. This balance gives strength to the picture and makes it more pleasing to look at. One reason why art critics say this picture is "without one false note" is its perfect balance. Remember that this regularity and balance of composition mean repose in a picture while a combination of slanting lines and lessening figures suggests motion. (See [38 T.J.]) If slanting lines suggest motion, perpendicular ones show rest, as seen in the figure of Ruth ([44 T.J.]). These perpendicular lines are very much used by the great artists; for instance, look at pages [262 S.A.], [372 S.A.], [382 S.A.], [390 S.A.])

Raphael painted many pictures besides Madonnas. One of his most famous pictures is on page [366 L.J.] There are two other Madonnas by this same artist in "The Golden Book" (pages [356 G.B.], [444 G.B.]). Describe them and learn their names.

What do you think is interesting about the Madonna picture by Carlo Dolci on page [340 G.B.]?

Where does the light come from in the Madonna picture on page [396 G.B.]?

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Note another very much like Dolci's (page [400 G.B.]): Can you explain this light?