Spes or Hope

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to show you a beautiful painting today! It's called Spes, which means "Hope" in Latin. It was painted a long, long time ago, in 1871, by an artist named Edward Burne-Jones. Isn't that a fancy name? nn (Pause for children to respond) nn This painting isn't just a pretty picture; it tells a story. Can anyone guess what the story might be about, just by looking at the title? Yes, it's about hope! nn (Pause for children to respond and offer guesses) nn

Look at the young woman in the painting. She's wearing a beautiful blue dress, almost the same color as the sky on a clear day. See how her skin is pale, like a soft cloud? And her hair is a warm reddish-brown, like autumn leaves. What do you think her expression is? Is she sad? Happy? Hopeful? nn (Pause for children to respond and discuss) nn

She's holding some delicate white flowers. These flowers are like tiny stars, aren't they? They're so pretty and fragile. What do you think the flowers might symbolize? What does hope feel like to you? nn (Pause for children to respond and discuss) nn

Notice the window behind her. It has bars on it! It looks a little like a cage, doesn't it? But even though she might be feeling trapped, she's still reaching up towards the curtain. It's like she's reaching for something better, something hopeful. What do you think she's reaching for? nn (Pause for children to respond and discuss) nn

The artist, Edward Burne-Jones, was very clever with light and shadow. See how the light makes the woman and her flowers stand out? It's like a spotlight on her hope! He also paid attention to every little detail, just like a detective solving a mystery. That's what makes this painting so special. nn (Pause for children to respond and discuss) nn

So, Spes, or Hope, isn't just a pretty picture. It's a story about hope even when things are difficult. It reminds us that even if we feel trapped or sad, we can always reach for something better. What do you think this painting makes you feel? nn (Pause for children to respond and discuss) nn

I hope you enjoyed learning about this amazing painting! Remember, art can tell us stories and make us feel things. Now, let's go look at some more amazing art!