Primary Teacher Resource For teaching key stages 1–2 Stories from the RA Collection Copy of The Last Supper (detail), c. 1515–1520, Attributed to Giampietrino (fl. 1508–1549) and to Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio (1467–1516) Contents

Introduction Illustrated key works with information, quotes, key words, questions, useful links and art activities for the classroom Glossary Further reading

To book your visit

Email studentgroups@ royalacademy.org.uk or call 020 7300 5995

roy.ac/teachers

The Council of the Royal Academy selecting Pictures for the Exhibition, 1875, Russel Cope RA (1876). Photo: John Hammond Introduction

What is the Royal Academy of Arts?

The Royal Academy (RA) was Every newly-elected Royal set up in 1768, and 2018 was Academician donates a work of art, its 250th anniversary. A group of known as a ‘Diploma Work’, to the artists and architects called Royal RA Collection and in return receives Academicians (or RAs) have been in a Diploma signed by the Queen. The charge ever since. artist is now an Academician, an important new voice for the future of There are a maximum of 80 RAs at the Academy. any one time, and spaces for new Members only come up when an In 1769, the RA Schools was existing RA reaches the age of 75, founded as a school of fine art. It still and becomes a Senior Academician, exists today and offers around 17 or on the death of an RA. artists each year the opportunity to participate in an intense three-year postgraduate programme.

Learn more about the RA www.royalacademy.org.uk/about- the-ra#video What is in the RA Collection? Artists putting finishing touches to a painting on Varnishing Day, before the 1934 Summer Exhibition.

The RA Collection is unusual compared to those of other museums or galleries because most works in it were chosen by artists rather than by curators or collectors. The Collection was formed for two main reasons:

1 2

To help teach artists, and to provide To represent the Royal examples of great art of the Academicians – the RA has past. When the RA was founded thousands of drawings and prints there were very few museums by the Academicians, as well as or galleries, no photography, no Diploma Works in the form of Internet and international travel was paintings, sculpture, architectural very difficult, so the RA collected drawings and models, and film. source materials such as prints of artworks, plaster casts from antique sculpture and architecture, copies of important paintings such as The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, and a few original old-masters, like Michelangelo’s The Virgin and Child with the Infant St John. The RA also established a library, which is now the oldest institutional fine arts library in the UK, including many books on art and other subjects such as anatomy and costume. The RA Collection exists only because it is an artists’ academy and, since every work in the Collection is there for a reason, there is an interesting story attached to each one. Stories in the RA Collection

This teachers resource focuses on stories from the RA Collection. The stories told by the artworks featured are mythological, Biblical and personal narratives. A story is... ‘An account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment.’

English Oxford Living Dictionaries Aims of this resource Nudity in the RA Collection To introduce the RA Collection to your students Please note that some works in this resource contain nudity, as some of the artworks in the RA Collection To explore five key artworks feature nude characters, often from the RA Collection, providing from Ancient Greek and Roman key information about the artworks mythology. There is a tendency and questions to ask your students, towards nudity in Greek and Roman focusing on ‘What’s the story?’, sculpture which is not so in any referring to: other cultures. To some, it was seen as shameful, but to the Greeks Background: the story of how the nudity was the mark of a hero, which work was made represented the mythologised world rather than the real one. In these What you can see: unearthing the sculptures we can see emotion, story of the artwork by looking at it action and narrative. and describing its content

Journey to the RA Collection: the story of how each work came to the Royal Academy

To support a visit to the Royal Academy of Arts to see the real artworks (where possible)

To link these artworks to other related artworks using the online Collection Explorer resource and other useful links

To carry out art activities in the classroom to reinforce the processes and themes used by the artists Cast of the Farnese Hercules, c. 1790, by Glycon the Athenian and Lysippus. On display in the Julia and Hans Rausing Hall at the RA. roy.ac/teachers Where to see the RA Collection

Explore online Visiting the RA Tours and workshops

To look at works in our Collection, The RA Collection is located in If you would like to combine your use the RA Collection Explorer at several different areas within the visit with a free workshop, a free tour roy.ac/searchthecollection Royal Academy of Arts building, as or a visit to an exhibition, please see indicated nearby images of each the Teachers and Schools section on What is the RA Collection work: our website. Explorer? The Dame Jillian Sackler roy.ac/teachers A tool on our website that allows Sculpture Gallery you to make lateral connections Level 2, Burlington House between artworks. The Julia and Hans Rausing Hall Search for an artwork in the Lower ground floor connecting Burlington Collection from this resource, and House and 6 Burlington Gardens scroll down. The RA Collection Gallery Level 1, 6 Burlington Gardens Photo: Roy Matthews There, you will find artworks that link to the one you searched for. The Annenberg Courtyard The links could be thematic, or Outside the Burlington House entrance compositional. Your class can visit the RA Collection at any time. There is no need to book.

roy.ac/ searchthecollection

What’s the story?

Background What you can see Journey to the RA Collection

In Greek mythology, Laocoön was In the sculpture Laocoön and his This cast of Laocoön and his Sons a priest who lived in an ancient Sons, Laocoön is placed centrally as in the RA Collection was one of city called Troy. There was a war a large, muscular, nude figure with a group of casts given to the RA between the people of Troy – the his right arm raised. On each side by the Prince Regent in 1816. Trojans – and the Greeks. The are his sons, also nude; smaller in This cast was made in Rome and After Athenodorus of Greeks gave the Trojans a large size they look like miniature adults travelled back by ship to England. The RA previously had another cast, Rhodes (active 10–20 CE), wooden horse. Laocoön was rather than children. Wrapped shown in the painting The Royal Hagesandrus (c. 100 – c. 20 suspicious of this gift and warned his around them are two giant sea fellow Trojans not to bring the horse serpents, with one opening its jaws Academicians in General Assembly, BCE), and Polydoros (c. 50 – into the city. This made Poseidon as if to bite Laocoön. The three 1795, by Henry Singleton. c. 0 BCE) (the god of the sea) angry as he figures look very distressed and wanted the Greeks to win the war. in pain, as they try to fight off the The original statue has had many Laocoön and his Sons (Roman To help them, he sent two giant sea snakes. restorations. When the work was version of a lost Greek original), serpents to attack Laocoön and his found, Laocoön’s right arm was sons. This is a plaster cast of the missing, along with the right hands c. 100 BCE – 50 CE group Laocoön and his Sons by of both his sons. It is unclear as to whether Laocoön’s arm should be Plaster cast. Height 242 cm The Trojan horse was built by the Hagesandrus, Polydorus and Greeks so they could get into the Athenodorus of Rhodes from around bent (as in the Vatican statue) or On display in the city of Troy. Inside the horse there the first centuryBCE to first century straight (as in the RA statue). RA Collection Gallery were Greek soldiers. Despite CE. It is a copy of an earlier sculpture Laocoön’s warnings, the Trojans took which is highly regarded and held by the horse inside the city walls. That the Vatican Museums in Rome. That night the Greek soldiers emerged statue was found in 1506, buried at from the horse, which was secretly the Esquiline Hill in Rome, Italy. hollow, and opened the gates to let in the Greek army, which then defeated the Trojans. Key words list Questions for students Useful links

What is a sculpture? How is it Article father different to a painting or drawing? British Museum explains why Greek ? statues are ‘naked’ son Who do you think all the figures are? What are they doing? What is What other artworks in the Artwork serpent wrapped around them? How do you RA Collection depict ‘Greek The Royal Academicians think the men are feeling? Can you Mythology’? in General Assembly, 1795, by Henry attacking think of some interesting words to Singleton (image below) describe the men, or the serpents Use the RA Collection Explorer Laocoön (giant sea snakes)? Do you think as a research tool to find out Further reading Laocoön was punished for doing more. Laocoön, Greek mythology Poseidon something wrong or for being right? Trojan Horse, Greek mythology Greek mythology Can you make up your own story about what is happening in the nude sculpture? Do the people escape from the snakes? Tell your story to sculpture the person next to you. Then listen to their story. Are your stories similar or plaster different? Why do you think the men are not wearing any clothes? Do you know any other myths or stories from Ancient Greek or Roman times? What are they about? Art activities for the classroom

Title Related themes Resources and materials Learning outcomes Frozen Sculpture and curriculum links

Work of art Art & Design Materials to make hats such as card, Create your own artwork inspired by Laocoön and his Sons (Roman Using sculpture to develop and sticky tape, staples, pens and wool another artist version of a lost Greek original), share their ideas, experiences and Props such as fabric c. 100 BC–50 CE imagination; and learning about the Camera Explore taking on different character After Athenodorus of Rhodes and work of a range of artists Paper roles After Hagesandrus (c.100 BCE – Pencils 20 BCE) English Learn about Ancient Greek and Participating in discussions, Roman myths presentations, performances, role play, improvisations and debates; opportunities to improvise, devise and script drama for one another and a range of audiences

History A study of Greek life and achievements and their influence on the western world; the Roman Empire and its impact on Britain Activity outline Extension for KS2

Whilst looking at the sculpture In groups of six, take on the different Extend your frozen sculpture to Laocoön and his Sons, listen to the characters and pose as if you are a acting out your scene from Laocoön story of Laocoön (see What’s the petrified sculpture. and his Sons. Write a short script Story?). covering what each character, in- Will your pose look similar to cluding the snakes, will say and then Use describing words (adjectives) Laocoön and his Sons or will it look practise your scene. to decide as a class what each different? You will need to think how character from the story is like: to include Poseidon and also how The Story of the Trojan Horse you can be the snakes. video (6 mins) For example: You might like to make hats for the Watch the short video to find out Laocoön different characters or use props, more about the story of the Trojan Priest, father, protective, kind and like draped fabric. Practise posing Horse and the city of Troy. You might wise so that your teacher can take a like to act out more scenes from this photograph of you. When they say story. Each group could take on a Laocoön’s sons ‘freeze’ can you get into position and different scene and you could then Scared, worried, vulnerable, hurt and keep completely still? present this at a school assembly. angry Share your photographs with your Poseidon classmates. Spot the difference God of the sea, powerful, stormy and between your frozen sculpture and bad-tempered theirs. serpents Poisonous, strong, frightening and constricting

What’s the story?

Background What you can see Journey to the RA Collection

The original Last Supper (c. 1492– This painting shows a scene from This copy of The Last Supper was 97/8) by Leonardo da Vinci is the Bible. It is from the Gospel of first recorded in Italy in a Carthusian housed in Santa Maria delle Grazie John 13:21, when Jesus announces Monastery in Pavia in the late 1500s, in Milan. It was painted in tempera that one of his Twelve Apostles will and was then on display in the Brera and oil paint on a dry wall, and has betray him. Here we can see the Academy in Milan for many years Copy of The Last Supper deteriorated very badly due to how it Twelve Apostles seated at a long before being sent to England in c. 1515–1520 was made and to the dampness of table sharing a meal, with Jesus at 1817 to be sold. Many of the Royal Academicians went to see it and Attributed to Giampietrino the wall. the centre. All of the Apostles have a halo apart from Judas whose face is were unanimous in their admiration (fl. 1508–1549) and to The Last Supper that you can see in shadow to show that it is he who of the painting, but it took several Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio in the RA Collection is an early later betrays Christ. Judas clutches years before the RA actually bought (1467–1516) copy which is almost the same size a money bag in his right hand and it. as the original but the top third of is believed to have committed the Oil on canvas. 302 x 785 cm Leonardo’s composition showing betrayal in exchange for thirty pieces Henry Fuseli RA said it was ‘rescued the ceiling is missing. Details can be of silver. from a random pilgrimage by On display in the seen in the copy that are no longer the courage and vigilance of our RA Collection Gallery visible in the original, such as Jesus’s In this painting, behind the gathering, President’, who was at that time feet, and the salt cellar overturned by there are three windows, showing the painter Sir Thomas Lawrence. the right arm of Judas. a beautiful landscape beyond, It was bought for six hundred and on each side there are doors guineas from an H. Fraville in 1821. No one knows for sure who painted amongst patterned tapestries on the This was the most expensive work the copy, but it is likely to have been walls. On the table there are plates, of art that had ever been bought one or more of Leonardo’s pupils. some food, including unleavened for the RA Collection, so all of the bread, and glasses of wine. The Academicians had to be called to a bread represents the body of Jesus General Assembly meeting to agree and the wine his blood. The Last the purchase. Supper is seen by some as the Passover meal. In Judaism, Passover celebrates the freedom of the Jews from slavery in ancient Egypt. Key words list Questions for students Useful links

Jesus The Last Supper painting is based Look at what the people are wearing on a Bible story as told in the books and what their hair is like. How is this Further reading of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. different to today? Is there anything The Last Supper – Bible Story, Bible tempera Listen to one version of the story as else in the painting that tells you it is Study Tools a whole class. What do you think the from the past? Twelve Apostles story is trying to tell you? The Gospel of John 13:21, Bible Look at a different version of Gateway meal Who were the Twelve Apostles? the Last Supper also in the RA What is Passover? What do the Collection – The Last Supper Passover, Brittanica Kids table bread and wine provided by Jesus (c. 1714) by James Fellowes (below represent? Why does Jesus think right). How is this print similar to Artwork bread someone might betray him and who The Last Supper (c. 1515–1520) The Last Supper, c.1714, (below) by is it? Who sits at the centre of the painting? How is it different? Which James Fellowes sandals painting and why? How do we know picture do you prefer and why? which person is Judas? eating What can you see in this detailed talking painting? Imagine you are describing it to someone who hasn’t seen it. windows Start by thinking about its size and shape, what the biggest objects are painting (like the table), the people, what’s on the table (such as bread, plates and glasses), what you can see at ? Passover the bottom (for example feet) and at What other artworks in the RA the top (like windows, and patterns Collection show ‘eating’? on the walls). Make a class list of all of the items you can see and then Use the RA Collection Explorer add describing words (adjectives) as a research tool to find out thinking about each thing in terms of more. its shape, size, colour and detail. Art activities for the classroom

Title Related themes Learning outcomes Hands and Feet and curriculum links Resources and materials

Work of art Art & Design Paper Create your own artwork inspired by Copy of The Last Supper, c.1515– Using drawing to develop and Pencils (2B or softer) another artist 1520 share their ideas, experiences and Charcoal Attributed to Giampietrino (fl. 1508– imagination; developing a wide Chalk pastels Explore using a range of drawing 1549) and to Giovanni Antonio range of art and design techniques Large roll of paper materials, trying out shading and Boltraffio (1467–1516) in using line, shape and form; and Range of drawing materials smudging learning about the work of a range Paints of artists Paintbrushes Learn about Bible stories, Paint trays Christianity and observing religious Maths Water pots occasions Number and place value: count Scraps of coloured paper and fabric to and across 100; addition and Glue subtraction: add and subtract one- Scissors digit and two-digit numbers to 20

Religious Education Systematic study: a unit on Christianity could include a study of how Christian worship and practice reflects the life and teachings of Jesus.

Thematic study: a unit on practices and ways of life could investigate how and why some people observe religious occasions at home, including Christian ways of marking Lent and Easter. Activity outline Go further Extension for KS2

Look closely at the painting of The You might like to extend this activity Look at other artists in the RA Last Supper. How many people are by creating a large class mural on a Collection who have focused on there at the table? How many hands roll of paper, adding in your drawings hands and feet. Try drawing a hand can you count? How many feet can of hands and feet. You could either or foot in as few lines as possible. you count? Can you see more hands choose to copy the painting in the Can your classmates tell what you or more feet? How many more? Can RA Collection, or you could think have drawn? you see all the people’s hands and about creating your own image of feet or are some out of sight? a celebratory meal that could have Shaking hands with a glove, 1961, by taken place in your school. Who Edward Bawden RA What are the hands doing? could you include and who would be (For example Jesus’s hands are placed at the centre of the picture? Praying hands, 1864, by William outstretched, one pair of hands are Dyce RA clasped together, and others are You can use drawing, painting and gesturing.) Try your hands in the collage to complete your mural and Studies of feet and hands, c. 1837, different poses and think about how then display it in the hall or corridor (below) by Sir John Everett Millais Bt each person in the painting might for other classes to see. Ask them PRA have been feeling. what they think of it.

If you are allowed to, take off your socks. Take it in turns to draw one another’s hands and feet from different viewpoints, such as sideways and from above. Your hands could be doing different things like waving, praying, or holding something. Try drawing them using a range of drawing materials such as pencil, charcoal and/or chalk pastels. You could add shading for the shadows and try smudging the charcoal and pastels.

What’s the story?

Background What you can see Journey to the RA Collection

This is a plaster cast of the Venus de’ This cast of the Venus de’ Medici This cast of the Venus de’ Medici Medici. The original marble statue shows a full-length standing nude was given to the Royal Academy was first recorded in 1638 at the woman with her head turned to by the Duke of Gloucester in 1779. Villa Medici in Rome, Italy. It is now the left and her arms cut off just After the RA moved to Burlington in the Uffizi Galleries in Florence. below her shoulders (even though House in 1867, this cast was Cast of Venus de’ Medici, The marble is dated back to Ancient the original did have arms). Venus installed in a niche at the top of Roman, c. 1779 Rome (1st century BC). was the goddess of love in Ancient the main staircase, along with the cast of the Townley Venus, now in Unknown maker Roman mythology, whereas she The Venus de’ Medici has become was called Aphrodite in Ancient the British Museum. These were replaced in the 1930s by statues of Plaster cast. 165 x 52 x 41 cm one of the most widely copied and Greece. Venus was thought to have admired classical sculptures. The been born from the sea, which the British artists J.M.W. Turner and On display at the RA in the Julia original Venus de’ Medici has an explains the small dolphin at her feet, Thomas Gainsborough. and Hans Rausing Hall inscription on the base that reads being ridden by Cupid. He is often ‘Cleomenes, son of Apollodorus’. portrayed as Venus’s son, as well as A cast of the Venus de’ Medici is Although Cleomenes, a sculptor the Roman god of love and desire. included in the background of The working in Athens in the first century Royal Academicians in General BCE, was most likely to have been Assembly , 1795. As the statue in its maker, it is not certain. Whoever that painting has arms, it is likely made it would probably have based to be another cast of the Venus the sculpture on an earlier bronze de’ Medici, given to the Royal Greek sculpture. Venus’s arms were Academy by Thomas Jenkins in restored later, after the RA cast had 1769. The RA owns a number of been made. It is not known who drawings, engravings, etchings made the plaster cast in the RA and photographs of the Venus de’ Collection. Medici which show the position of Venus’s arms. Key words list Questions for students Useful links female What is a sculpture? How is it Artworks different to a painting or drawing? The Uffizi original ofThe Venus de’ Look carefully at this plaster cast of ? Medici (with 3-D rotating model) Venus (Roman) a sculpture. What is missing from the cast? If you added her arms what What other artworks in the RA Aphrodite (Greek) Artworks linked to the Venus de’ position do you think they would be Collection show ‘full length’ or Medici in the RA Collection in? What would they be doing or ‘standing’ figures? mythology holding? The Royal Academicians in General Use the RA Collection Explorer Assembly, 1795, by Henry Singleton armless Who do you think the woman is? as a research tool to find out What is she doing? Where do you more. Article standing think she is? How do you think British Museum explains why Greek she is feeling? Can you think of statues are naked dolphin some interesting words to describe her? What do you think the smaller nude creatures are at the base of the sculpture and why might they have sculpture been included? plaster Why do you think the woman is not wearing any clothes? What other myths or stories do you know from Ancient Greek or Roman times?

Can you make up a story about what is happening in the sculpture? What happens next to Venus, Cupid and the dolphin? Tell your story to the person next to you. Then listen to their story. Are your stories similar or different? Art activities for the classroom

Title Related themes Resources and materials Learning outcomes Venus Collage and curriculum links

Work of art Art & Design White paper Create an artwork inspired by Cast of Venus de’ Medici, Using drawing to develop and share Pencils another artist Roman, c. 1779 ideas, experiences and imagination; Coloured pencils Unknown maker developing a wide range of art and Crayons Explore creating a collage by design techniques in using colour Glue sticks sticking down different materials and texture; and learning about the Scissors work of a range of artists Scraps of tissue paper / fabric Learn about Ancient Greek and Magazines Roman myths English Pieces of plaster and marble Using spoken language to develop (optional) understanding through speculating, hypothesising, imagining and exploring ideas

History A study of Ancient Greek life and achievements and their influence on the western world; the Roman Empire and its impact on Britain

Science Compare and group together materials on the basis of their properties, including their hardness, solubility, transparency, conductivity

Activity outline Extension for KS2

Casts like the Venus de’ Medici were You might think about creating a The original Venus de’ Medici was studied by art students at the RA background for your Venus using carved from marble, whereas the Schools to help them learn how to collage. This means sticking down cast in the RA Collection was draw. Sketch an outline of the Venus scraps of different materials, such as created out of plaster. What does de’ Medici. tissue paper, fabric or cut-outs from marble feel like? What does plaster magazines. Be careful not to stick feel like? Describe each by their Draw in her arms. What position do the materials over your drawings of simple physical properties. you think they could be in? What Venus, Cupid and the dolphin. are they doing? Is Venus holding Compare the two materials, plaster anything? Show your finished work to your and marble. Which do you think is classmates. What are the similarities stronger? Which do you think is Where do you think the Venus de’ between your and their artworks and easier to use to create a sculpture? Medici is? Draw in a background. what are the differences? Find out about the processes of Maybe you will choose the sea plaster casting and marble carving. she was born from or maybe she How do they compare to the Venus is somewhere else. In Botticelli’s de’ Medici sculpture that inspired you famous painting The Birth of Venus, in the first place? (right) she is emerging from a large scallop shell.

Add in the dolphin and Cupid. Are they at her feet or doing something else in your picture? They are small in the sculpture but you might choose to make them larger.

It is likely that the marble Venus de’ Medici statue was originally coloured but has faded over time. What colours are you going to choose for this woman? Use coloured pencils or crayons to colour her in. You can leave her nude or you may prefer to add some clothing. Add colour to the dolphin and Cupid too. The Birth of Venus, c. 1485, by Sandro Botticelli. Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, Tuscany, Italy / Bridgeman Images

What’s the story?

Background What you can see Journey to the RA Collection

The Swiss-born painter Angelica A female artist dressed in working The four paintings by Angelica Kauffman RA (1741–1807) was clothes draws a classical cast. She Kauffman were commissioned for the daughter of an artist father who represents an idea (as an ‘allegorical the Royal Academy’s Council Room taught her to draw from a young figure’), here being ‘design’ or in the institution’s first purpose-built age, at a time when women had ‘drawing’. The statue is raised up on home at Somerset House, London. Angelica Kauffman RA few opportunities for a formal art a plinth and is called the Belvedere They were later transferred to Design, 1778–1780 education. She was a child prodigy, Torso (the original is in Rome but the ceiling of the entrance hall at establishing her reputation as an there is a later plaster cast in the RA Burlington House. Oil on canvas. 130 x 150.3 cm artist. Kauffman travelled across Collection). Kauffman started her Europe with her family and arrived in artistic training by drawing casts (as Kauffman features in the painting On display in the London in 1766, aged 25. was usual at the time), but it was The Royal Academicians in RA Collection Gallery rare for a woman to look at a male General Assembly,1795, along Having moved to London, Kauffman body like this, and she was forbidden with Mary Moser who was the only became a close friend of the RA’s to draw from nude life models. other woman Academician when first President, the painter Joshua the RA was founded in 1768. On Reynolds. Kauffman created Behind the woman are two the ceiling above them, two of four circular paintings (known as Roman columns with clouds and Kauffman’s ‘Elements of Art’ can be ‘roundels’) to visually represent mountains beyond. These could seen: Design and Composition. Joshua Reynold’s theories in his represent ‘nature’, differing from Discourses on Art, a series of the cast and columns showing ‘art lectures later published in 1788. and architecture’. In the Design Together these paintings make up and Colour roundels the women her series the ‘Elements of Art’, are making something, whereas which are Invention, Composition, in Composition and Invention they Design and Colour. are thinking about something. Some people think that the women Kauffman depicts in this series might be self-portraits.

Key words list Questions for students Useful links

What can you see in this painting? Artworks woman Use describing words. Does the title Invention, 1778–1780, by Angelica Design help you work out what it’s ? Kauffman RA drawing about? What other artworks in the Colour, 1778–1780, by Angelica statue What colours can you see in this RA Collection show ‘one Kauffman RA painting? Which are light colours and woman only’? columns which are dark? Think about how Composition, 1778–80, by Angelica this painting is split into different Use the RA Collection Explorer Kauffman RA cloud sections by colour. How do these as a research tool to find out colours make you feel? Try mixing more. The Royal Academicians in General mountains these colours with paint and making Assembly, 1795, by Henry Singleton a colour chart. ceiling Cast of the Belvedere Torso, c. early How is the woman shown in the nineteenth century elements painting (for example, active and strong)? Look at the women in the Video painting other three paintings. What are they My Art Agenda: Sarah Pickstone doing? Why do you think it was (7 mins) unusual for women to be trained as artists when Kauffman was creating these paintings in the eighteenth century?

Design is currently on a wall in the RA Collection Gallery, but where were the ‘Elements of Art’ first shown? Why do you think paintings are put on ceilings? Do you think everyone sees them or do you think some visitors might walk beneath them without realising they are there? Art activities for the classroom

Title Related themes Resources and materials Learning outcomes Colour or Invention and curriculum links

Work of art Art & Design Sugar paper (A3) or large rolls of Create an artwork inspired Angelica Kauffman RA Using painting to develop and share paper by another artist Design, 1778–1780 ideas, experiences and imagination; Scissors developing a wide range of art and Pencils Learn about colour-mixing using design techniques in using colour; Paint (poster or powder) paint and learning about the work of a Water pots range of artists Paint trays Paintbrushes (thick and thin) English Giving well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes Activity outline Video Extension for KS2

An Allegory of Painting by Sarah one of those words. What will you You might like to introduce this Create your paintings in groups Pickstone is a contemporary include and why? Will you add in activity by showing the video of on large rolls of paper that will be response to Angelica Kauffman’s any people? As well as featuring a Sarah Pickstone studying the displayed high up on your classroom ‘Elements of Art’ series, and is on woman, the artist Kauffman often ‘Elements of Art’, and at work in her walls or even the ceiling. Think about show at the Royal Academy until 18 used symbols in her work. studio, along with the final piece,The how you are going to work together. August 2019. Rainbow, being installed (see below). Who will be responsible for which What shape will your painting be? It part of the painting? During the two-part exhibition of could be a rectangle or a circle like Video An Allegory of Painting by Sarah Kauffman’s artwork. Think about My Art Agenda: Sarah Pickstone Afterwards think about how it Pickstone, Design by Angelica where you are going to show your (7 mins) was working in a team to create Kauffman, usually in the Burlington work at school as this might help an artwork. Many artists have House entrance hall, has been you decide on the shape. Could you ‘collaborated’ to create artworks replaced by Pickstone’s Belvedere; even show it on the ceiling like the or have had assistants working for while Kauffman’s Design is on ‘Elements of Art’? them. display in the RA Collections Gallery. And Pickstone’s Rainbow (below, Use a pencil to draw out your ideas. right), inspired by Kauffman’s Colour, Think about what colours you want is hanging outside the RA café in to use. Try mixing the colours using Burlington House. In Rainbow, Sarah paint. Paint over your drawing. Add Pickstone says she focused on ‘the some detail with thin brushes and freedom of the artist to be whatever use thick brushes to fill in areas. she wants to be’. How will you decide when your artwork is finished? So far, you have been focusing on the painting Design, one of When your work is dry display it for the four paintings that make up your classmates to see and ask one the ‘Elements of Art’ series. The another what you like about each other paintings include Colour and painting. Invention. What do you think of when I say ‘colour’? How would you describe ‘invention’?

Choose either ‘colour’ or ‘invention’ and create a painting to describe The Rainbow, 2018, by Sarah Pickstone © Justine Trickett

What’s the story?

Background What you can see Journey to the RA Collection

The artist who created this sculpture In Greek mythology, the Titans were Thomas Banks studied at the Royal is Thomas Banks RA (1735–1805). six gods who ruled the universe Academy Schools in 1769 making It is carved from a single block of before they were taken over by the him one of the first students, and marble (probably from Italy), popular Olympians (another group of gods). he was awarded the travelling with sculptors for the way it looks scholarship to Rome in 1770. Thomas Banks RA pure and white. Banks was an The Titans piled mountains on top of The Falling Titan, 178 6 expert carver who began his career one another to reach up to heaven in When he was elected a Royal as a stone mason. In preparation for an attempt to overthrow Zeus, who Academician in 1785, he gave the Marble. 84.5 x 90.2 x 58.4 cm this piece, he made many sketches was king of the Olympians. They Academy this ambitious artwork. and a clay model, a plaster cast of wanted to take back their position, The sculpture must have remained On display at the RA in the Dame which is in the RA Collection. but they were seen by Zeus and important to the artist as he later Jillian Sackler Sculpture Gallery thrown back to earth. This sculpture produced an etching of a very similar The artist’s daughter believed that shows one Titan falling towards the scene (c. 1795). In the etching, the this work was probably based on earth about to be crushed by the satyr and goats are no longer hiding sketches Banks had made with pile of boulders he has just climbed beneath the giant man, but are to be artist Henry Fuseli RA whilst they up. The man appears to be a giant seen running free down the hill. were in Rome together. against the tiny figures of goats and a Roman satyr (a man with goat’s ears, legs, horns and tail) shown hiding at the base of the sculpture.

The chisel marks in the rough boulders contrast with the smoothness of the man’s skin. The giant’s head appears to be quite small, as if the work should be viewed from below. The perspective highlights the action, and the pain is visible in the Titan’s facial features. Key words list Questions for students Useful links

What is a sculpture? How is it Artwork falling different to a painting or drawing? The Falling Titan, c. 1795 Look carefully at this sculpture made ? (etching by Thomas Banks) Titans from marble. Which parts look rough and which parts look smooth? Why What other artworks in the Articles Zeus do you think the artist chose to do RA Collection feature ‘falling’ How to read it: Thomas Banks RA’s that? or ‘goats’? The Falling Titan Greek mythology Who do you think the man is? What Use the RA Collection Explorer British Museum explains why satyr is he doing? How do you think he is as a research tool to find out Greek statues are naked feeling? What interesting words can more. goats you think of to describe him? What do you think the smaller creatures boulders are and why might they be hiding? nude Why do you think the man is not wearing any clothes? What other sculpture Ancient Greek myths or stories have you been reading at school? marble Can you make up your own story about what is happening in the sculpture? Tell your story to the person next to you. Then listen to their story. How are your stories similar or different? Art activities for the classroom

Title Related themes Resources and materials Learning outcomes Before and After and curriculum links

Work of art Art & Design Paper Make up and tell your own stories Thomas Banks RA Using drawing to develop and share Pencils (2B or softer) using artworks as a starting point The Falling Titan, 178 6 ideas, experiences and imagination; Coloured pencils developing a wide range of art and Crayons Depict your own story through a design techniques in using colour, Examples of comics / storyboards sequence of drawings line, shape and form; and learning about the work of a range of artists Learn about Ancient Greek myths

English Giving well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes; and using spoken language to develop understanding through speculating, hypothesising, imagining and exploring ideas; writing in narratives, creating settings, characters and plot

History A study of Ancient Greek life and achievements and their influence on the western world

Activity outline Extension for KS2

Look at the sculpture The Falling Put your three pictures together: Referring to your three pictures, Titan as a whole class. What would your first drawing in the middle, write a story about what is you say is happening in this scene? your ‘before’ picture in front of it, happening in the sculpture, including How would you describe it, using and your ‘after’ picture at the end. what happened beforehand and interesting descriptive words? Do your three pictures tell the story afterwards? Think carefully about you want them to, or do you need who the characters are and what Can you draw what is happening? to add anything? What parts are the they are like. Use interesting Make sure you include the giant most important that you would like adjectives to describe them. You man falling, the tiny satyr and to stand out? Think about adding might want to add in some extra goats below him, and the boulders colour or shading with a soft pencil characters too. crashing down. to give your drawings more shape and form. How can you set the scene at the What do you think took place just beginning? What happens in the ‘before’ what is happening in your Share your three pictures with your middle of your story? How does your picture? Share your ideas with the classmates, describing what is story end? whole class. Does your story include happening in each of them to tell any additional characters? Maybe your story. Review and then share your stories someone pushed the man. Draw by reading them out. what you think happened. The Falling Titan, c. 1795 (etching by Thomas Banks) What do you think happened just ‘after’ your first drawing? Share your ideas with the whole class. Are the man, the satyr and the goats still in your story or have they disappeared? Draw this part, or the end of the story. Drawing a sequence of pictures in order to tell a story is called ‘storyboarding’. Glossary

Aphrodite marble sculpture In Greek mythology, the goddess of beauty, A hard, crystalline metamorphic form of A two- or three-dimensional work of art fertility and love. Aphrodite is variously limestone, typically white with coloured made in representative or abstract form, described as the daughter of Zeus and mottlings or streaks, which can be polished typically by carving stone or wood, by Dione, or as being born from the sea. and is used in sculpture and architecture. casting metal or plaster, or by constructing from other materials; the art of making such Apostle mythology works. One of the twelve chief disciples of Jesus The traditional stories (myths or legends) Christ. typically told as if they are true accounts of statue events in an earlier age. A carved or cast figure of a person or boulder animal, especially one that is life-size or A large rock, typically one that has been nude larger. worn smooth by erosion. A figure not wearing any clothes; naked. Titans column painting In Greek mythology the immensely strong An upright pillar, typically cylindrical, A picture made by applying paint to a Titans were gods before the Olympians. supporting an arch or other structure, or surface, typically on canvas, paper, or board. The Titans were the offspring of Uranus standing alone as a monument. (Heaven) and Gaia (Earth). Led by Cronus, the Titans overthrew Uranus, and in turn plaster drawing Zeus, son of Cronus, rebelled against his A hard, white substance made by the father and after a long struggle became the A picture or diagram made with materials addition of water to powdered and partly Olympian king of the gods. like a pencil, pen, or crayon. dehydrated gypsum, used for making sculptures and casts. elements Venus In classical Roman mythology, Venus was An essential or characteristic part of Poseidon the goddess of beauty and love; but in something abstract. In Greek mythology, the god of the sea, earlier times was thought to be a garden water, earthquakes, and horses, son of nymph or spirit. Jesus Cronus and Rhea and brother of Zeus. He is often depicted with a trident in his hand. The central figure of the Christian religion, Zeus the son of God. In Greek mythology, the supreme god, the satyr son of Cronus (whom he dethroned) and Laocoön A mythical forest god or demon, Rhea, and husband of Hera. Zeus was In Greek mythology, a Trojan priest who, represented in Greek art as a man with the the protector and ruler of humankind, the with his two sons, was crushed to death ears and tail of horse, but in Roman art with dispenser of good and evil, and the god of by two great sea serpents as a penalty for the ears, tail, legs and horns of a goat. weather and atmospheric phenomena (such warning the Trojans not to bring into Troy as rain and thunder). the wooden horse made by the Greeks. Definitions taken from or based on the English Oxford Living Dictionaries https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/ Shaking hands with a glove, 1961, Video – My Art Agenda: Sarah Pickstone by Edward Bawden RA (7 mins) Further reading www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/work- www.royalacademy.org.uk/article/maga- of-art/shaking-hands-with-a-glove zine-my-art-agenda-sarah-pickstone-angel- ica-kauffman Praying hands, 1864, by William Dyce RA After Athenodorus of Rhodes (active www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/work- 10–20 CE), Hagesandrus (c. 100 – c. 20 of-art/praying-hands Thomas Banks RA BCE), and Polydoros (c. 50 – c. 0 BCE) The Falling Titan, 178 6 Laocoön and his Sons (Roman version of a Studies of feet and hands, c. 1837, by lost Greek original), c. 100 BCE – 50 CE Sir John Everett Millais Bt PRA The Falling Titan, c. 1795, (etching by www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/work- Thomas Banks) Laocoön, Greek Mythology of-art/studies-of-feet-and-hands www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/work- www.britannica.com/topic/Laoc- of-art/the-falling-titan-1 oon-Greek-mythology Cast of Venus de’ Medici, c. 1779 How to read it: Thomas Banks RA’s The Trojan Horse, Greek Mythology Unknown maker Falling Titan www.britannica.com/topic/Trojan-horse www.royalacademy.org.uk/article/how-to- The Uffizi,The Venus de’ Medici (with 3-D read-it-thomas-banks-falling-titan The Story of the Trojan Horse video (6 mins) rotating model) www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RYGQQ_ www.uffizi.it/en/artworks/medici-venus qybY General Venus de’ Medici artworks in the RA Collection British Museum explains why Greek The Last Supper, 1515–1520 www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/ statues are naked Attributed to Giampietrino (fl. 1508–1549) search/works-of-art?all_fields=ve- www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/ and to Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio (1467– nus+de+medici howaboutthat/11333473/British-Museum- 1516 ) explains-why-Greek-statues-are-naked.html

The Last Supper, c. 1714, by James Fellow- Angelica Kauffman RA The Royal Academicians in General es Design, 1778–80 Assembly, 1795, by Henry Singleton www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/work- www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/work- of-art/the-last-supper-1 Angelica Kauffman RA, Invention, of-art/the-royal-academicians-in-gener- 1778–178 0 al-assembly-1 The Last Supper – Bible Story, Bible Study www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/work- Tools of-art/invention www.biblestudytools.com/bible-stories/the- last-supper.html Angelica Kauffman RA, Colour, 1778–1780 www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/work- The Gospel of John 13:21, Bible Gateway of-art/colour www.biblegateway.com/passage/?- search=John+13%3A21-32&version=NIV Angelica Kauffman RA, Composition, 1778–178 0 www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/work- of-art/composition Writer Rachel Moss

Editor Unless otherwise stated, copyright of all RA Collection artworks Zoë Smith is owned by the Royal Academy of Arts, London roy.ac/teachers