St. Paul's, Fleet Street, London

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to show you a really cool picture today! It's called "St. Paul's, Fleet Street, London," and it's like a snapshot of London a long, long time ago – in 1905! nn (Pause for children to look at the print) nn Does anyone know what a cathedral is? It's a really big, important church! See that huge building in the middle? That's St. Paul's Cathedral. It's famous for its big, round dome. Can you point to the dome? Wow, you're all so good at finding it! nn (Pause for children to respond and point) nn

This picture was made by an artist named Joseph Pennell. He didn't use paint, though! He used something called ink. It's kind of like a very dark brown or black. Look closely – can you see how some parts are really dark and some are lighter? That's how he showed light and shadow. It makes the cathedral look really grand and important, doesn't it? nn

(Pause for children to observe and respond) nn

See all the other buildings around St. Paul's? They're much smaller and skinnier. They're all squished together, aren't they? The artist didn't draw them with as much detail as the cathedral. He just gave us a hint of what they look like. Why do you think he did that? Maybe to make the cathedral stand out even more! nn

(Pause for children to consider and offer answers) nn

And look! Can you see tiny little people walking around? And maybe even a horse-drawn carriage? It's like we can almost hear the sounds of the city, even though it's just a picture! It makes us feel like we're there in London, a long time ago. nn

(Pause for children to observe and respond) nn

This picture isn't just a pretty picture of buildings. It shows us what London was like at the beginning of the 1900s. It shows us a mix of old and new, big and small. It's like a story, frozen in time! What do you think this picture tells us about London? nn

(Pause for children to share their thoughts) nn

So, next time you see a picture, remember to look closely! See how the artist uses light and dark, big and small, to tell a story. Joseph Pennell was really clever, wasn't he? I hope you enjoyed looking at this amazing picture as much as I did! Now, let's go see some more art!