Maurice of Bavaria, Prince Palatine

My name is Isabella, and I will be your guide today through one of our most impressive paintings! Look at this amazing picture! It's called "Maurice of Bavaria, Prince Palatine." Isn't it cool? nn

nn This painting was made a long, long time ago, in 1640! That's way before your grandparents were even born! The artist was a very talented man named Gerard van Honthorst. He lived in a country called the Netherlands. Can anyone point to the Netherlands on a map? nn

nn See how the painting is shaped like an oval? That was a popular shape for paintings back then. It's like a fancy picture frame! The prince is only shown from the chest up. Why do you think the artist only painted him from the chest up? What do you notice about his face? nn

nn Look closely at what the prince is wearing! He has a beautiful red coat with shiny gold on it. It's very fancy, isn't it? And it looks like he's wearing armor underneath! What do you think that means about him? Do you think he was a powerful person? nn

nn The artist used something called "chiaroscuro." That's a fancy word for using light and dark colors. See how the light makes the prince's face stand out? It's like a spotlight on him! The background is dark, so our eyes go straight to the prince. What other colors do you see in the painting? nn

nn This painting shows us how people dressed and what was important a long, long time ago. It tells us about a prince who was very important. It's like a window into the past! What do you think this painting tells us about the prince? What do you think he was like? nn

nn This painting is a really special piece of art. It's very old, and it's beautiful. I hope you enjoyed learning about it! Do you have any questions about the painting? What was your favorite part? Now let's go see some more amazing art!