Toilet of Venus

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to show you a really cool painting today! It's called Toilet of Venus, and it's super tiny, but it tells a big story. It's like looking into someone's secret world from a long, long time ago! nn

(Pause for children to look at the painting) nn Does anyone know what a "toilet" means in this case? It doesn't mean a bathroom! Back then, "toilet" just meant getting ready, like getting dressed and fixing your hair. So this painting shows a lady getting ready. See her? She's sitting down, all relaxed. nn

(Point to the woman in the painting) nn What do you think she's doing? She's surrounded by all sorts of things – maybe brushes, maybe perfumes, maybe little jars. Can you see them all? What do you think they are used for? nn

(Pause for children to answer and discuss) nn This lady is probably a goddess, maybe Venus, the goddess of love! The painting is from a long time ago, about 370 years ago! The artist was very clever at showing us her world. Look at her skin – it's so soft and light, isn't it? And look at the dark colors of the room around her. It makes her stand out, like a star! nn

(Point out the contrast between the woman and the background) nn And look out the window! Do you see those little figures? They might be other gods and goddesses! It's like the artist is showing us two worlds: her private world, and the world of myths and stories. It's a bit like a secret code, isn't it? nn

(Pause for children to observe the details) nn The artist, David Teniers the Younger, was amazing at painting everyday things. He made even simple things look beautiful and interesting. He used lots of browns and greens, but he also used lighter colors to make the lady shine. It's like a puzzle, and we get to solve it by looking closely! nn

(Pause for children to appreciate the painting) nn So, what do you think about this tiny painting? Did you like the colors? The story? What did you find most interesting? Remember, even small things can tell us big stories about the past! Now, let's move on to see some more amazing art! nn