Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536)

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to show you a really cool painting! It's a portrait of a very important person from a long, long time ago. His name was Desiderius Erasmus, and he lived hundreds of years ago! nn Does anyone know what a portrait is? (Pause for answers) That's right! It's a painting of a person. This painting was made by a super talented artist named Quentin Matsys. He was like a super-duper photographer of his time, but instead of a camera, he used paint and brushes! nn

This painting shows Erasmus sitting at his desk. Look closely! What do you see him wearing? (Pause for answers). Yes, he's wearing a fancy robe and a furry hat! It looks very warm and cozy, doesn't it? And what's he holding? (Pause for answers). That's right, a quill pen! Can you guess what he's doing? (Pause for answers). He's writing! He was a very smart man who wrote lots of books. nn

See this open book? It has some words on it. They're in Latin, a language spoken a long time ago. Some of the words even tell us the names of other books he liked to read! It's like he's sharing his favorite stories with us, even from so long ago! Can you imagine what it would be like to read books written hundreds of years ago? nn

The artist, Quentin Matsys, was really good at showing light and shadow. See how some parts of the painting are darker, and some are lighter? That makes Erasmus and everything around him look three-dimensional, like they're popping out of the painting! It's like magic, isn't it? nn

This painting isn't just a picture of a man; it's a window into the past! It shows us what life was like for a very important scholar during a time called the Renaissance. It's like a time capsule! What do you think Erasmus might have been thinking about while he was writing? nn

So, next time you see a painting, remember to look closely! Notice the colors, the light, and the details. You might discover a whole story hidden within the artwork! Thank you for joining me today! I hope you enjoyed learning about Desiderius Erasmus and his amazing portrait!