Western Art Movements I Art Movements    

Lesson 12: Renaissance - Children's Games (1560)

by Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the artwork's movement.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

The final example of Renaissance art is Flemish artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder's 1560 painting 'Children's Games.' The painting depicts boys and girls of all ages gathered in a central area of town and enjoying all sorts of fun, including gymnastics, wearing masks, swimming, rolling hoops, riding hobby horses, making art, spinning, playing leapfrog, enjoying toys, and riding on barrels.

Vocabulary

Hobby Horse: A child's toy consisting of a wooden or cloth horse mounted on a stick.
Flemish: Of or relating to Flanders, the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium.
Leapfrog: A game, often played by children, in which a player leaps like a frog over the back of another person who has stooped over.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Renaissance
2. Timeline - 14th century to the 17th century

Renaissance Movement Characteristics:

1. Better Use of Proportion: For example, objects farther away are painted smaller. ('Saint George and the Dragon' by Raphael between 1504-1506)

2. Foreshortening: Shortening lines to enhance perception of depth. Note how the subjects seem to reach out at the viewer. ('The Supper at Emmaus' by Caravaggio in 1601)

3. Sfumato: Gradual blending of tones to enhance three-dimensionality. See the shading of the face, especially around the eyes. (Detail of 'Mona Lisa' by Leonardo da Vinci circa 1503–06)

4. Chiaroscuro: Contrasting light and dark to enhance perception of depth. ('Sacred and Profane Love' by Giovanni Baglione between 1602-1603)

Renaissance Movement Subjects:

1. Biblical Subjects Still Common ('The Creation of Adam' by Michelangelo between 1487-1564)

2. Secular Mythology ('Bacchus and Ariadne' by Titian circa 1520-1523)

3. Secular History ('The Meeting of Leo the Great and Attila' by Raphael in 1514)

Renaissance Architecture:

1. Emphasizes symmetry, proportion, and geometry. (St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy built between 1506-1626)

2. Columns (St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy built between 1506-1626)

3. Pilasters: Decorative columns giving the appearance of supports or pillars.

4. Lintels: Horizontal structural beams spanning the tops of openings between two vertical supports.

5. Domes (Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower in Florence, Italy, consecrated in 1436)

6. Niches (Uffizi Palace, Florence circa 1560-81, containing statue of Farinata degli Uberti)

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Children Engaging in Gymnastics
• Children Wearing Masks
• Children Swimming
• Children Rolling Hoops
• Child Riding a Hobby Horse
• Children Making Art
• Children Spinning
• Children Playing Leapfrog
• Children Playing with Toys
• Children Riding on Barrels

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

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

Activity 3: Map the Artist

Zoom in on the map of Europe to find Belgium (BE).

Activity 4: Classify the Artwork

• This artwork belongs to the Renaissance art movement.
• Find the Renaissance art movement on the timeline.
• During which (estimated) years did the Renaissance art movement flourish?
• Which art movement preceded the Renaissance art movement?
• Which art movement followed the Renaissance art movement?

Activity 5: Recreate the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 15 of 'Fourth Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 4

Answer 1

The characters are children playing a variety of games.

1 / 4

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 4

Answer 2

The setting is a central area of a town.

2 / 4

Question 3

To which western art movement does this painting belong?

3 / 4

Answer 3

This painting belongs to the Renaissance art movement.

3 / 4

Question 4

During which century was this artwork created?

4 / 4

Answer 4

Pieter Bruegel the Elder created this artwork in the 16th century.

4 / 4

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? The characters are children playing a variety of games.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is a central area of a town.
3. To which western art movement does this painting belong? This painting belongs to the Renaissance art movement.
4. During which century was this artwork created? Pieter Bruegel the Elder created this artwork in the 16th century.

References

'Children's Games (Bruegel).' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Renaissance Art.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Renaissance Architecture.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.