Presumed Portrait of Jean Abraham Nottebohm

My name is Isabella, and I'll be your guide today! We're going to look at a really cool painting. It's called "Presumed Portrait of Jean Abraham Nottebohm." Isn't that a long name? It's a bit like a mystery, because we're not completely sure who the man in the painting is! nn (Pause for children's reactions and questions) nn

This painting is very old. It was made a long, long time ago, in 1849! Can anyone guess how old that is? It's older than your grandparents, maybe even your great-grandparents! The artist was someone named Ary Scheffer. He used oil paints on a big canvas, like a really, really big piece of paper. It's almost as tall as me! The man in the painting is sitting down, and he looks very serious. nn (Pause for children's reactions and questions. Point out the size of the painting if possible.) nn

Look closely at the man. What is he wearing? He's wearing a dark suit, a white shirt, and a fancy necktie. See how dark the background is? It makes the man stand out. It's like a spotlight shining just on him! The artist was really good at using light and shadow to make the painting look three-dimensional. Can you see the shadows on his clothes? nn (Pause for children's reactions and questions. Encourage them to point out details.) nn

This painting is from a time called the Romantic era. Romantic artists liked to show the feelings and thoughts of people. This man looks thoughtful, doesn't he? What do you think he's thinking about? Maybe he's thinking about his family, or his work, or maybe even a secret! nn (Pause for children's reactions and questions. Encourage imaginative responses.) nn

This painting tells us a little bit about how people dressed and lived a long time ago. It shows us that even though things have changed a lot, people still have feelings and thoughts, just like us! Isn't that amazing? What do you think is the most interesting thing about this painting? nn (Pause for children's reactions and questions. Summarize key points and thank them for their participation.) nn We've learned so much about this painting today! Remember, looking at art is like solving a puzzle. We use our eyes, our imaginations, and our knowledge to understand what the artist is trying to tell us. Now, let's go look at some more amazing art!