Enter In Classical Art for a Classical School DRAFT - work in progress updated 6/7/21 CORAM DEO ACADEMY INTRODUCTION Flower Mound Campus pur- poses to attract students to the truth, goodness, and beauty of all things given to us by our Creator. We get lost in beautiful literature, wonder while playing beautiful mu- sic, bring health to our bodies through practice, and desire to present beautiful works of art to students, families, and visitors. In doing so, we hope to train our aesthetic senses by fully engaging, not just the academic mind, but the whole person created by God, to lift the eyes as they walk down our halls, readying the minds for all who gaze on the artwork for learning. Our hope is in Christ Jesus, the ultimate source of beauty. Page 2 Table of Contents Grammar School page 4 Aesop’s Fables Building 200 page 24 Masters Building 400 page 34 Modern Builing 300 page 50 Page 3 GRAMMAR SCHOOL Aesop’s Fables Teaching with fables is an ancient tradition found in every culture. Fables are — and were meant to be — for everyone. Young and old alike can read a fable and learn something about Truth, goodness, and beauty. After the Bible, fables are among the most reproduced pieces of literature. Fables tend to have deep wisdom, humor, and insight into the workings of the human heart. When set against the light of scripture, each becomes brighter for the comparison. Aesop is the name of the man credited with writing a collection of fables known as Aesop’s Fables. If he did live, he is believed to have been a slave around the sixth century BC. His fables have three main qualities. First, they are short. Second, the main char- acters are usually familiar animals loved by children. And third, fables teach a lesson or moral. It is not known exactly when the first book of Aesop’s Fables was actually penned. Fables were originally passed down in oral form from one generation to the next just like myths, tales, and legends. Art is meant to invoke thinking and promote conversation. As you walk through the halls of Building 100 on Coram Deo Academy’s Flower Mound campus, stop and enjoy the beautiful fables we have on display. This booklet tells each fable, its moral, and a scrip- ture verse that connects the fable to a biblical principle. It also provides you with a conversation starter that enables deeper thinking and personal reflection or application of the wisdom gleaned from each fable. Page 4 The Hare and the Tortoise A Hare was one day making fun of a Tortoise for being so slow upon his feet. “Wait a bit,” said the Tortoise; “I’ll run a race with you, and I’ll wager that I win.” “Oh, well,” replied the Hare, who was much amused at the idea, “let’s try and see”; and it was soon agreed that the fox should set a course for them, and be the judge. When the time came both started off together, but the Hare was soon so far ahead that he thought he might as well have a rest; so down he lay and fell fast asleep. Mean- while the Tortoise kept plodding on, and in time reached the goal. At last the Hare woke up with a start, and dashed on at his fastest, but only to find that the Tortoise had already won the race. Slow and steady wins the race. Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endur- ance the race that is set before us.” Name some activities at which is it good to be slow and steady. Name some activities at which it is good to be fast. Page 5 Untitled Fable This piece of artwork appears to be a fable, and it was created by the same artist that did many of the fables you have seen in the building. However, it is not a picture that relates to a specific fable. Come back to this picture once you have viewed the other fables in the building. Study this picture for a few minutes. What stands out to you? What do you think this is a picture of? Do you recognize any of the characters? Create a fable, a moral, and a biblical principle to accompany this picture. Page 6 The Vain Jackdaw Jupiter announced that he intended to appoint a king over the birds, and named a day on which they were to appear before his throne, when he would select the most beautiful of them all to be their ruler. Wishing to look their best on the occasion they repaired to the banks of a stream, where they busied themselves in washing and preening their feath- ers. The Jackdaw was there along with the rest, and realized that, with his ugly plumage, he would have no chance of being chosen as he was: so he waited till they were all gone, and then picked up the most gaudy of the feathers they had dropped, and fastened them about his own body, with the result that he looked gayer than any of them. When the appointed day came, the birds assembled before Jupiter’s throne; and, after passing them in review, he was about to make the Jackdaw king, when all the rest set upon the king-elect, stripped him of his borrowed plumes, and exposed him for the Jackdaw that he was. Borrowed feathers do not make fine birds. Galatians 1:10 “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Was Jupiter wise to select a king on the basis of beauty? If you were Jupiter, what factors or qualities would you look for in a king? Page 7 The Fox and the Crow A Crow was sitting on a branch of a tree with a piece of cheese in her beak when a Fox observed her and set his wits to work to discover some way of getting the cheese. Coming and standing under the tree he looked up and said, “What a noble bird I see above me! Her beauty is without equal, the hue of her plumage exquisite. If only her voice is as sweet as her looks are fair, she ought without doubt to be Queen of the Birds.” The Crow was hugely flattered by this, and just to show the Fox that she could sing she gave a loud caw. Down come the cheese, of course, and the Fox, snatching it up, said, “You have a voice, madam, I see: what you want is wits.” Beware of Flatterers. Proverbs 29:5 “A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.” What type of flattery might the sly fox be giving the crow in this picture? What do you think he might want? Page 8 The Mice in Council Once upon a time all the Mice met together in Council, and discussed the best means of securing them- selves against the attacks of the cat. After several suggestions had been debated, a Mouse of some standing and experience got up and said, “I think I have hit upon a plan which will ensure our safety in the future, provided you approve and carry it out. It is that we should fasten a bell round the neck of our enemy the cat, which will by its tinkling warn us of her approach.” This proposal was warmly applauded, and it had been already decided to adopt it, when an old Mouse got upon his feet and said, “I agree with you all that the plan before us is an admirable one: but may I ask who is going to bell the cat?” It is one thing to propose, and another to carry it out. Luke 14:28-30 “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a founda- tion and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’” Find the two mice that are whispering to each other in the bot- tom left corner of the picture. What do you think that they are saying? What do you think the blue object is that is hanging from the top center of the picture? Page 9 The Wolf and the Crane A Wolf once got a bone stuck in his throat. So he went to a Crane and begged her to put her long bill down his throat and pull it out. “I’ll make it worth your while,” he added. The Crane did as she was asked, and got the bone out quite easily. The Wolf thanked her warmly, and was just turning away, when she cried, “What about that fee of mine?” “Well, what about it?” snapped the Wolf, baring his teeth as he spoke; “you can go about boasting that you once put your head into a Wolf’s mouth and didn’t get it bitten off. What more do you want?” Expect no gratitude if you show charity to an enemy. 1 Peter 3:9 “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” What makes a good or trusted friend? Page 10 The Lion and the Mouse A Lion asleep in his lair was waked up by a Mouse running over his face.