Painters Born in the 1800s 1800s Painters    

Lesson 14: The Circus Barker

by Norman Rockwell

Directions

Study the painting for one week.

Over the week:

• Look at the painting.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Read about the artist.
• Practice reciting the names of the artist and the painting.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Study the review questions.

Synopsis

In Norman Rockwell's 'The Circus Barker,' two boys dress up and play circus. One wears a jersey and long underwear and flexes his artificially bulked up muscles as, SANDOW, the show's strongman. 'Sandow' wears a red headband with a feather, has symbols painted on his face, and fake wire hoop earrings. The other wears an oversized top hat and someone's father's suit and has painted a black moustache on his upper lip. A group of children cluster around to see the show.

Vocabulary

Circus: A traveling company of acrobats, trained animals, and clowns that gives performances, typically in a large tent.
Barker: A person who stands in front of a theater, sideshow, etc., and calls out to passersby to attract customers.
Jersey: A knitted garment with long sleeves worn over the upper body, often related to a sports team.
Strongman: A man of great physical strength, especially one who performs feats of strength as a form of entertainment.
Earring: A piece of jewelry worn on the lobe or edge of the ear.
Top hat: A man's formal hat with a high cylindrical crown.
Moustache: A strip of hair above the upper lip.

Concepts

1. Norman Rockwell was born in 1894 in New York City, New York.

2. Zoom in and find Rockwell's birth state on the map of the United States.

3. Rockwell painted brightly colored, oftentimes humorous snapshots of American life.
4. At times, Rockwell also portrayed serious social issues, such as the civil rights movement and school desegregation.
5. Between 1916 and 1963, Rockwell painted many covers for the Saturday Evening Post, a bimonthly American magazine.
6. Rockwell died in 1978 in Massachusetts at the age of 84.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

During the week, study the painting and find the following:

• Top hat
• Earring
• Feather
• Jersey
• Bulging Biceps
• Suit and Tie
• Bonnet
• Big Bow
• Braids
• Sign
• Red Sash
• Face Paint
• Fake Moustache
• Suspenders
• Pointing finger
• Clenched Fist

Activity 2: Narrate the Painting

• After studying the painting, narrate the scene shown in the painting aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Complete Vocabulary Activities

• While studying the vocabulary words, point them out in the painting.
• Define each of the vocabulary words in your own words.

Activity 4: Color the Painting   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 20 of 'First Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the painting?

1 / 4

Answer 1

The characters are two boys dressed as characters from a circus and their audience.

1 / 4

Question 2

What is the setting of the painting?

2 / 4

Answer 2

The setting is most likely outdoors in the boys' neighborhood.

2 / 4

Question 3

What is the barker pointing at?

3 / 4

Answer 3

The barker points at the strongman.

3 / 4

Question 4

What is strongman flexing?

4 / 4

Answer 4

The strongman flexes his biceps muscle.

4 / 4

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the painting? The characters are two boys dressed as characters from a circus and their audience.
2. What is the setting of the painting? The setting is most likely outdoors in the boys' neighborhood.
3. What is the barker pointing at? The barker points at the strongman.
4. What is strongman flexing? The strongman flexes his biceps muscle.

References

'Norman Rockwell.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'The Circus Barker.' Wikiart. Wikiart.org. n.p.