CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

The “Golden Age” of British and Russian Painting

Урок-обобщение

Тема урока: Золотой век британской и русской живописи: Третьяковская галерея и Национальная галерея.

Цель урока: Вывести учащихся на творческий уровень владения темой (свободное владение лексическим и грамматическим материалом в рамках пройденной темы).

Обучающие и развивающие задачи:

1. Практиковать учащихся в обсуждении проблемных вопросов по теме с использованием зрительных опор.
2. Тренировать учащихся применять усвоенный лексический и грамматический материал в новых ситуациях общения в монологической и диалогической речи.
3. Развивать навыки аудирования с извлечением необходимой информации.
4. Учить учащихся делать выводы, обобщения, создавать аргументированные высказывания с помощью лексических опор.
5. Проконтролировать знания учащихся о крупнейших картинных галереях Москвы и Лондона.
6. Развивать навыки самостоятельной и коллективной работы.
7. Развивать эмоционально-правильную реакцию в ходе беседы.
8. Развивать внимание, мышление, логику высказывания.
9. Развивать умение систематизировать свои знания.

Воспитательные задачи:

1. Показать учащимся интегративные связи английского языка с другими учебными предметами, такими как история, мировая художественная культура.
2. Прививать детям любовь и понимание необходимости изучения культуры страны изучаемого языка.
3. Развивать уважение к истории и культуре как своего, так и других народов.
4. Развивать у учащихся интерес к изучению английского языка, показав его важность как языка межнационального общения.
5. Развивать патриотические чувства и гордость учащихся за свою родину, показав огромный вклад русского искусства в мировую культуру.

Оборудование урока:

1. Иллюстрированные альбомы: Третьяковская Государственная Галерея, Национальная Галерея.
2. Репродукции картин художников, представленные в Третьяковской и Национальной Галереях.
3. Лексические таблицы для зрительной опоры: фразы для аргументированных высказываний собственного мнения (Positive and Negative Impressions).
4. Распечатки образцов диалогов.
5. Распечатки таблицы для контроля понимания аудирования.
6. Видеофрагмент “История создания Третьяковской Галереи”.
7. Аудиокассета с записью классической музыки.

ТСО: Телевизор, видеомагнитофон, магнитофон.

ХОД УРОКА

I. Оргмомент.

Teacher: Hello, dear children and our guests! First of all, I want you to look at the blackboard and read these words. Please think what our lesson is devoted to.

Pupil (reads the words on the blackboard): All great art is believed to be thought-provoking.

Teacher: How do you understand the words “thought-provoking”? Try to guess their meaning.

Pupil: I think that art makes people think about life, the beauty around them, nature, and love of their country and its people.

Pupil: In my opinion art wakes up people’s feelings, such as kindness, admiration, enjoyment, and peace in the soul.

Teacher: Very well. What kinds of art can you name?

P1, P2: Architecture; Sculpture; Literature; Cinema; Theatre; Painting; and Music.

Teacher: Today we are going to discuss painting, as this kind of art makes the strongest impression on people, their feelings and thoughts. Painting contributes to the development of a person’s character and to raising his or her intellectual level.

II. Основная часть урока:

1. Introduction of the groups of pupils at the lesson.

Teacher: We are happy to live in such a country as Russia, which occupies one of fhe leading places in the world culture. The main treasures of Russian painting are represented in the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. But on the other hand since we study the English language and we must be aware of the culture and traditions of Great Britain if we want to master the language perfectly. And the most famous and well-known picture gallery in London is the National Gallery. So, today we have three groups of students: the 1st group studied everything about the Tretyakov Gallery; the 2nd group learned information about the National Gallery; the 3rd group of students thinks that art is not very important for their lives. So, our task at the lesson today is to make the third group change their opinion about art and involve them in our discussion.

2. Exchanging information about the best picture galleries of Moscow and London.

Teacher: Now you are going to listen to a dialogue between the students from Russia and Britain discussing art. Listen attentively and make notes about the main picture galleries. The ideas on the list will help you.

(The teacher gives out sheets of paper to record the information.)

The Dialogue about the Two Galleries

Pupil 1: Hello, Sasha! I’m here on holidays. Can you advise me what to see in your city?

Pupil 2: Hello! Glad to meet you. Please, tell me what are you interested in?

Pupil 1: I’m fond of oil painting.

Pupil 2: Lucky you are. I share your interests and can advise you to visit the Tretyakov Gallery.

Pupil 1: It’s a picture gallery, isn’t it? Why is it called the Tretyakov Gallery?

Pupil 2: It was named in honour of its founder, the Moscow merchant and lover of art, Pavel Tretyakov. Treyakov presented the building and the art collection to the city of Moscow.

Pupil 1: How old is the Gallery?

Pupil 2: In 2006 it will celebrate its two hundredth anniversary.

Pupil 1: Does it mean that Tretyakov began his collection two hundred years ago?

Pupil 2: Not quite. He began his collection before that, but in 1856 he bought two pictures by Russian artists and began his collection of Russian art that very year. But I wonder what the most famous picture gallery is in your country.

Pupil 1: Don’t you know? It’s the well-known National Gallery in London.

Pupil 2: Was it based on a Royal collection?

Pupil 1: No, it’s just like the Tretyakov Gallery. It was based on a private collection of the Russian emigree banker John Julius Anderstein. At that time the collection had only 38 paintings and it was put on public display at Anderstein’s old residence.

Pupil 2: Where is the Gallery situated now?

Pupil 1: It is situated on the north side of Trafalgar Square. If you stand with your back to Nelson’s Column, you will see a wide horizontal front in classical style. And what does the Tretyakov Gallery look like?

Pupil 2: It looks like an illustration to an old Russian tale. The facade is decorated with the ancient coat of arms of Moscow. I’ve got a picture of it. Look! An inscription on both sides says: “The Moscow City Art Gallery named after Pavel Mikhailivich and Sergei Mikhailovich Tretyakov. Founded by Tretyakov in 1856 and presented to Moscow in 1892”.

Pupil 1: Is the collection of your gallery rich?

Pupil 2: Yes, very. The Gallery has tens of thousands of paintings, drawings, sculptures and icons. I’d like to tell you that the Tretyakov Gallery possesses a very rich and fine collection of Russian art from the 12th to the 20th century. There are magnificent collections of icons, including “The Trinity” by Andrei Rublev, paintings by famous Russian artists such as Rokotov, Brulov, Kiprensky, Ivanov, Kramskoy, Savrasov, Repin, Vereshchagin, Surikov, Shishkin, Levitan, Vrubel and others, and a collection of Russian sculpture. And what about your Gallery?

Pupil 1: You know the Gallery is one of the youngest collections in Europe but together with the National Portrait Gallery it has more than 11,000 paintings. The National Portrait Gallery has portraits of distinguished men and women of English history. The National Gallery exhibited works of all the European schools of painting which existed between the 13th and 19th centuries. The collection includes Italian masterpieces of Pierro della Francesca, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Titian, Paolo Veronese. You can see paintings of Velasquez, El Greco and Goya from Spain. There are also masterpieces of Dutch artists, such as Rubens and Rembrandt. You can also find paintings of famous Impressionists. British art is also represented with important works by Turner, Gainsborough, Hogarth and Constable.

3. Work on the history of the museums.

The teachers ask questions:

1. When was the Tretyakov/National Gallery founded?
2. Where is the T/N Gallery situated?
3. What architectural style does the T/N Gallery represent?
4. Who was the founder of the T/N Gallery?
5. How many paintings are there in the T/N Gallery nowadays?
6. Artists of what countries are represented in the T/N Gallery?
7. What places do these Galleries occupy in world history?

4. A talk on the “Golden Age” of Russian and English painting.

Teacher: Now we see that you have learnt much about the most famous galleries of Moscow and London. But today we’d like to direct your attention to the painting of the “Golden Age”. But these periods are different in Great Britain and in Russia. So in Russia it was the period of the 19th century when Ivan Kramskoy, Alexei Savrasov, Ilya Repin, Isaac Levitan, Ivan Shishkin, Vasili Surikov and others lived and created masterpieces; In Great Britain the period between 1730’s and 1830’s is considered to be the “Golden Age”. At that time many first-class English masters contributed much to the history of world art. They were Thomas Gainsborough, John Constable and William Turner.

(Some of the students have prepared short reports about the most outstanding artists and paintings of both countries: Kramskoy, Constable, Vasnetsov, Gainsborough, Savrasov, Hogarth, Shihkin, Turner, Repin, Surikov,)

5. Teaching the students to make up dialogues discussing paintings.

Teacher: While visiting any picture exhibition you want to share your impressions and opinions with your friends. Now let’s try to read some dialogues.

(Pupils read the short dialogues in pairs.)

Teacher: I hope that you understand all the words and expressions from these dialogues very well. Let’s check your understanding. Translate into English, please: Шедевр; Пейзаж; Натюрморт с цветами; Картина, написанная маслом; Картина произвела на меня большое впечатление; Отображение действительности; Изумительный; Замечательное сочетание цветов; Яркий, живой; Полотно, картина; Невозможно оторваться от картины; Исполнена реалистически; Восхищаться живописью; Нет художественной ценности; Ужасно; Дело вкуса.

When you discuss a picture you will need some other words and phrases, which you have already learnt. Let’s revise them. Give some synonyms to the following: a painter; a picture; to draw; colours; schools; school of painting; How can a picture be drawn?; What can canvases represent?; How can a pictures convey the ideas and things represented?

Memorise these Short Dialogues

– What a landscape! Oh, it’s a masterpiece, and who is the artist?
– You mean the oil painting. This is “Rye” by Levitan.
– It’s marvellous. I am so impressed with the picture.
– ...don’t you find this picture “Grove of Mast-trees” by Shishkin wonderful?
– Oh, yes. The picture is a record of reality. With what marvelous success and skill this picture is painted!
– You know, what strikes me most in the picture is itsglorious combination of colours.
– Yes, the colours are rich. And the trees are so lifelike, so vivid.
– What a nice flower– piece! The flowers are excellently presented.
– Yes, they are so colourful and refreshing to the eye.
– You see it is hard to tear oneself away from this canvas.
– Yes, the picture is realistically portrayed. I admire such painting.
– Don’t you find this picture wonderful?
– No! It’s awful. No artistic merit.
– Well, it’s a matter of taste, of course. I don’t agree with you at all.

Teacher: Now we’d like to present a dialogue discussing a picture.

(The teachers present a dialogue on the painting by W. Turner “Rain, Steam and Speed”.)

– Dear Galina, I’d like to turn your attention to my favourite painting.
– Whom was the picture painted by?
– It was made by a famous English artist, William Turner. It was painted in the 18th century.
– But I shouldn’t call it a picture at all. To my mind it is a blur. It is a mere spattering of colours!
– But wait! Look attentively! This is a very rainy day, so rainy that it is difficult to see. And the wind is blowing, too. At first glance we can see very little, but then we notice a steam train which speeds along its journey. The train is on the bridge and down below there is the river Thames.
– Oh, what’s there in the distance? I can’t make out anything!
– I think it’s a small boat, sailing on the water. Where do you think... where is it safer: on the boat in such stormy weather or in the train with the windows closed?
– I’d prefer to be in the train!
– Right you are. William Turner lived at the beginning of the age of steam. He often painted subjects showing the impact of the Industrial Revolution upon his country.
– Oh, now I see. First I thought that it was completely meaningless. Now I realize that you can understand the picture better if you know something about the painter himself and his time.
– Of course. That was just what I wanted to say! From my point of view it’s an impressive piece of art. Just look, the effect of light is striking.
– Yes, it’s amazing. And I should call this kind of art thought-provoking, because it makes us think.

Teacher: Now try to make up your own dialogues about famous pictures. Use words and phrases on the blackboard to give your opinions.

The students prepare and present their dialogues and describe their favourite picture.

III. Заключительная часть урока.

Teacher: Now let’s sum our lesson up. Imagine that your friend came to Moscow from Great Britain. He asks you to take him on an excursion to the Tretyakov Gallery. Let’s see a piece of film about this gallery. Try to be his guide. Give your comments on the film.

A video-film about the Tretyakov Gallery with students’ comments.

IV. Подведение итогов урока.

Negative Impressions

The drawing is full of faults.
The perspective lacks depth.
Light is not rendered at all.
It isn’t a picture; it is a mere spattering of colours.
The painting is a blur. One can hardly make out anything.
I shouldn’t call it a painting at all.
It offends the eye.
It’s too bad for words.
It’s completely meaningless.
I was shocked by...
It’s a shame...
No good at all!
It’s unbelievable trash.
It’s beneath all criticism.
It’s ridiculous, disgusting.

Positive Impressions

I am favourably impressed by the picture.
It is realistic and true to life.
It is thought-provoking art.
It is an honest presentation of...
There is convincing truth in this painting.
This is what I should call true realism!
Isn’t it superb!
It’s quite a find, isn’t it?
Oh, but do look at this portrait! It’s a work of genius.
The effect of the light is striking.
It is magnificent (lovely, amazing, fantastic).
I’m absolutely thrilled.
It’s an impressive piece of art.
It’s too divine for words.
It conveys its meaning absolutely.

General Discussion

May I put a word in?
If you ask me...
It just occurred to me...
Generally speaking...
Strictly speaking...
That depends on...
I want to press the point that...
On one hand...
On the other hand...
Under the circumstances.
As far as I’m able to judge...
From my point of view...
To sum it all up...
All things considered…
We can arrive at the conclusion that...
I’d like to make some brief comments about...
On the whole...
To be brief/ in a word...
In short...
All these show conclusively that...

DISCUSSING PICTURES

Substitution Patterns and Some Expressions to Speak on Art

THE STATE TRETYAKOV GALLERY

The State Tretyakov Gallery is a museum of Russian art. It is one of the largest museums in the world.
The Gallery was named after the Moscow merchant and lover of art Pavel Tretyakov, a tireless collector of art treasures who spent most of his life and his sizeable fortune on his collection.
In 1856 Pavel Tretyakov bought his first two paintings by Russian artists. This year is considered to be the date of the foundation of the Tretyakov Gallery. Pavel Tretyakov is an outstanding person in Russian culture. He was interested in painting, followed the development of art and believed in Russian artists. Pavel Tretyakov decided to collect the most talented works of Russian Realist painters. He started with the pictures of his contemporaries and later began to collect pieces of ancient art as well.
The canvases from the Tretyakov collection were exhibited not only in Russia but also abroad.
On September 18, 1892, Pavel Tretyakov presented his collection to the city of Moscow. Since that time the Gallery has his name.
The Tretyakov Gallery possesses a very rich and fine collection of Russian art from the 12th to the 20th century. There are magnificent collections of icons, including an icon by Andrei Rublev called “The Trinity”, paintings by famous Russian artists such as Fyodor Rokotov, Orest Kiprensky, Karl Bryulov, Alexander Ivanov, Ivan Kramskoy, Alexei Savrasov, Ilya Repin, Nikolay Ghe, Vasily Vereshchagin, Isaac Levitan, Valentin Serov, Mikhail Vrabel and others, and a collection of Russian sculpture.
Nowadays the collection continues to expand. That is why it was necessary to reconstruct the Gallery and to give it extra floor space. At the beginning of the 1980s the Tretyakov Gallery was closed for reconstruction. In 1994 the Tretyakov Gallery opened its doors to the public. Several new halls have appeared. The conditions of painting storage have also been greatly improved.

THE NATIONAL GALLERY

The National Gallery in London is the principal British art gallery and one of the world’s greatest art collections. It is situated on the north side of Trafalgar Square. If you stand with your back to Nelson’s Column, you will see a wide horizontal front in a classical style. It is the National Gallery. Unlike the Louvre or the Hermitage, the National Gallery is not based on a former royal collection, but it was founded in 1824 by a Russian emigree banker, John Julius Anderstein. At that time the collection had only 38 paintings and it was put on public display at Anderstein’s old residence at 100 Pall Mall. Another source of information says that 38 paintings of Old Masters were offered to the nation by an English private collector, Sir George Beaumount.
In 1838 the present building was built especially for the National Gallery by the Greek architect William Wilkins.
The Gallery is one the youngest collections in Europe but it has more than 2,200 paintings. The National Portrait Gallery has more than 9,000 portraits of distinguished men and women of British history. The National Gallery exhibits works of all the European schools of painting which existed between the 13th and 19th centuries. The collection includes Italian masterpieces of Pierro della Francesca, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Titian, Paolo Veronese. You can see paintings of Velasquez, El Greco, Goya from Spain. There are also masterpieces of Dutch artists, such as Rubens and Rembrandt. You can also find paintings of famous Impressionists. British art is also represented with important works by Turner, Gainsborough, Hogarth, and Constable.

By G. Katerinovskaya,
Irina Gutkina,
Moscow, School “Znanie”