[email protected]: Interact with Art

Lucas Cranach the Elder. Portrait of a Lady, c. 1540. Collection of the Winnipeg Art Gallery; Gift of Lord and Lady Gort. G-73-51.⁠

This fashionable portrait of a lady is very mysterious. Like Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting of the Mona Lisa, we don’t know a lot about who this lady is or where she is from.

Look:

Look carefully at this woman’s pose, her face, her hair, as well as her clothing, and jewellery to find clues that reveal information about her. Who do you think she was? What makes you say that?

Imagine:

Now, imagine that you were having your portrait painted by a master artist. Take some time to position your body, your arms and your face to create a pose that best reflects who you are. See if you can hold that pose for at least one minute without moving! Have someone time you if you like. Was it hard to stay still?

Create:

Art time! Ask a family member or friend to sit for you while you paint their portrait. Have them dress up however they like (clothing, jewellery, hats, etc.) and ask them to hold an interesting pose for you. Add many details to your painting offering clues about the person whose portrait you are painting.

Share with us! Take a picture of your artwork and email it to [email protected] to be featured on our social media!