Portrait of Steven Tracy (died 1703), circa 1685

My name is Isabella, and I'll be your guide today! We're going to look at a super cool painting. It's a portrait, which means it's a picture of a person. This one is of a man named Steven Tracy, painted a long, long time ago – way back in the 1600s! nn

(Pause for questions and engagement) nn

This painting is really old, isn't it amazing? The artist, Adriaen van der Werff, was incredibly skilled. Look how detailed his clothes are! See the dark coat, maybe it's velvet? And the lighter shirt underneath? And that fancy white thing around his neck – it's called a cravat. What do you think Steven Tracy did for a living? nn

(Pause for answers and discussion. Guide them to notice the globe.) nn

Look closely! See what's in his hands? It's a globe! A globe shows the whole world. Maybe Steven Tracy was a traveler, or maybe he studied maps, or maybe he was involved in trading goods from all over the world. What do you think? nn

(Pause for discussion and speculation.) nn

The artist used lots of dark colors, but see how the light shines on Steven Tracy's face? That's called chiaroscuro – it's a fancy word for light and shadow. It makes him look really important and three-dimensional, like he's popping out of the painting! And see that little chubby figure at the bottom of the globe? It's a little cherub, a cute little angel! It adds a bit of mystery, doesn't it? nn

(Pause for questions and observations.) nn

This painting isn't just a picture; it's like a story! It tells us a little bit about Steven Tracy and what life was like hundreds of years ago. It's like a time machine, taking us back to the past! Isn't that amazing? What do you think Steven Tracy was like? What kind of person do you think he was? nn

(Pause for discussion and imaginative responses.) nn

So, next time you see a portrait, remember to look closely! Look at the colors, the details, and try to imagine the person's life. You might be surprised at what you discover! Thank you for joining me today. I hope you enjoyed learning about this wonderful painting! nn

(Open the floor for final questions and comments.)