Category: Cycle 1 Great Artists

  • Cycle 1 Week 18- El Greco

    Cycle 1 Week 18- El Greco

    Our last great artist for the year is Domenikos Theotokopoulos. Try saying that five times fast! It’s no wonder people just called him “The Greek”. Or maybe it’s because he lived and worked in Spain, but was born in Greece. Hmm. El Greco (“The Greek”) is known for his elongated, slender figures. He was more…

  • Cycle 1 Week 17- Michelangelo

    Cycle 1 Week 17- Michelangelo

    When I think of Michelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling, I picture him lying on his back atop huge scaffolds, working in this position for years and years.  I’m not sure if I was formerly taught this, but come to find out, it’s a widespread misconception!  He did work atop tall scaffolds, but stood upright…

  • Cycle 1 Week 16- Durer

    Cycle 1 Week 16- Durer

    Durer created beautiful masterpieces in all sorts of media, from oil paint to watercolor, and etchings to woodblock prints.  His prints were beyond compare, especially for the time period, and still wow us today.  One of his most famous woodblock prints is Rhinoceros, and so this lesson plan focuses on animal subject matter for creating our…

  • Cycle 1 Week 15- Angelico

    Cycle 1 Week 15- Angelico

    Fra Angelico is well-known for his altarpieces and frescoes, his most notable being The Annunciation painted in the Convent of San Marco in Florence, Italy.  He painted several paintings on this same theme throughout his life, but this is by far his most well-known work.  To help students get a firm grasp on his subject matter,…

  • Cycle 1 Week 14- Ghiberti

    Cycle 1 Week 14- Ghiberti

    Ghiberti’s masterpiece, dubbed the “Gates of Paradise”, are beautiful relief panels adorning the doors of the Baptistry of San Giovanni in Florence.  It took over twenty years for Ghiberti to complete this project!  He first carved wax molds, then cast them in bronze, and then polished, sanded, and incised details.  Finally, he covered them with…

  • Cycle 1 Week 13- Giotto

    Cycle 1 Week 13- Giotto

    Get a box handy, ’cause you’re going to be packing in a lot of stuff for this project.  It’s a super fun activity and totally worth the extra prep time and supplies! Giotto di Bondone was an Italian painter and architect during the late Middle Ages.  He created beautiful frescoes and also did tempera paintings…