Roman Campagna

My name is Isabella, and I'll be your guide today! We're going to look at a really cool painting called Roman Campagna. It's like stepping back in time! nn (Pause for children to look at the painting.) nn Does anyone know what a countryside is? It's like the area outside of a city, with lots of fields and maybe some hills. This painting shows the countryside near Rome, a long, long time ago. See all those green fields? And what do you think those brown things are in the middle? nn (Pause for answers. Guide them towards identifying the ruins.) nn Yes, those are old Roman ruins! Imagine how old they are! They're like the leftovers from buildings that were there hundreds of years ago. They're a bit broken down now, aren't they? But they're still really interesting. And look at the little house over there – it looks like someone lived there near the ruins. nn (Point to the details in the painting.) nn The artist, George Inness, used lots of brown, green, and red colors. It makes the painting feel warm and cozy, doesn't it? And see how the mountains in the background are a little blurry? That's because they're far away. It's like a magic trick with colors! The artist made the painting look deep and wide, like you could walk right into it. nn (Pause for children to observe the atmospheric perspective.) nn This painting is special because it shows how nature and old buildings can be together. It's like a story about the past and the present. It makes us think about how things change over time, but also how some things, like nature, stay beautiful forever. What do you think makes this painting so peaceful? nn (Pause for answers. Encourage discussion about colors, composition, and mood.) nn Isn't it amazing how a painting can make us feel so calm and happy? George Inness was very good at showing us the beauty of the world around him. I hope you enjoyed exploring this painting with me today! Do you have any questions? nn

(Allow time for questions and further discussion.)