Picture Study

Picture study is a gentle and inviting way to introduce good art to your children—in just 15 minutes per week. Display a picture and have the children look at it until they can see it clearly in their minds’ eye. Turn the picture over and ask them to describe it. When their narration is finished, display the picture again and discuss as desired. Display the picture in a prominent place for the rest of the week.

Linger with the same artist for several weeks until the children become familiar with his style. By studying just three artists per year, your students will easily enjoy “a couple of hundred pictures by great masters hanging permanently in the halls of [their] imagination” (A Philosophy of Education, p. 43).

Our Picture Study Portfolios make the method simple with an artist biography, eight carefully selected art prints, and leading thoughts for discussing each picture.

Suggested Artists

Artists with links are available in the Picture Study Portfolios series.

Ancient Art

A study of ancient art does not center around individual artists, but it can be seen in the artifacts and architecture from those time periods. The Stuff They Left Behind portfolios highlight ancient artifacts and architecture and are included in our history studies.