Unit 3. Entertaining Guide.
vocabulary:
Art.
1. Do you
know the meanings of these words?
Drawing,
sketch, painting, icon, poster, picture, reproduction, illustration,
masterpiece, collection, exhibition.
Genre.
2.
Explain the difference between the following pairs of words:
a.
landscape/countryside
b.
shape/pattern
c.
watercolour/oil
d.
portrait/still life
e.
draw/point
f.
canvas/icon
Colour.
3.
Discuss these points:
-How
important is colour to you in place you work or your home?
-How do
you feel about the colour scheme in your classroom?
-Which do
you consider to be the best colours for a school?
-Does
colour affect how people feel or do their work?
Use the
words below:
Strong
subtle brilliant muted vivid deep soft faint bright
bold intense vibrant
4. How
good are you at painting?
Look at
these extracts and match one to the painting.

The next
important period in Russian painting is the second half of the 19th century,
when a broad popular upsurge against serfdom gave rise to the democratic trend
of the peredvizhniks. "Dispossessed in a Fire" (1871) by Pryanishnikov is
typical of this trend, which was concerned with the destiny of the Russian
peasantry, of the Russian people as a whole.
The
flowering of Russian art in the first thirty years of the 19th century is
linked with the spiritual revival of Russian society after the victorious war
against Napoleon. Indicative in this respect are portraits by Tropinin, an
artist who came from a family of serfs. His portraits reflected Moscow's free
and easy life style in Pushkin's day.
One of
the best works of the Soviet section is "Still Life" (1922) by Mashkov, a
prominent founder of the "Jack of Diamonds" group. A distinctive feature of
this painter is his brilliant pictorial temperament and lively colouring. The
idea of Life's triumph, fundamental to his art, is expressed in the
Novosibirsk still life through its monumental composition large-scale objects
and rich intensity of colour.
Kuprin's
landscape "Dniepropetrovsk. The Coke Mill" (1930) evokes an image of the
industrial transformation of the young Soviet state through dynamic rhythms
and complexity of colour.
The
portrait of the actress Stepanova (1933), a representative of the new Soviet
intelligentsia, by Konchalovsky, emphasizes independence, self-confidence,
energy, spiritual and physical emancipation.
5. Read
the text and put questions to it.
The
Novosibirsk Picture Gallery
Today
the Novosibirsk Picture Gallery is one of Siberia's most conspicuous
collections and numbers about six thousand works of art. Exhibited here are
over 5 hundred works of painting, sculpture, graphic and applied arts. The
leading place belongs to the sections of Russian and Soviet art. Old Russian
art was more democratic than Byzantine art although it was undoubtedly
influenced by the latter, hence its more lyrical and lucid character. Old
Russian painting is represented by several works of the art school of the 16th
and 17th centuries. During that period Russian painting, preserving its
classical feature, had become more narrative and miniature. Among the most
valuable icons in the collection are "Dimitri Solunsky" and "The Virgin
Enthroned", which show a deep feeling for line and colour. Siberian icons make
up quite a special group in the collection. Painted by folk artists, these
icons are distinguished by simplified iconographic techniques, decorativeness
and bright colours.
Among the
peredvizhniks' realistic landscapes, the works of Shishkin ("The Pine Wood",
1888; "Lush Grass"), and Kuindzhi are particularly well-known. The latter was
notably preoccupied with light effects. His "Moon Night" belongs to the cycle
of canvases relating to the famous picture "Moon Night on the Dnieper" (1881).
Sketches
by the great painter Surikov, a native of Siberia, convey the ethnic features
of local residents ("A Minusinsk Tartar", 1909; "A Cossack Girl", 1913). Art
at the turn of the 20th century, complex, contradictory, and abounding in
trends as it was, is represented fairly well in the collection. One of the
major works of that period is "The Gipsy" by Golovin, a designer of stage sets
who was involved in the famous Russian ballet seasons in Paris.
The
artistic trend called the "Union of Russian Artists" is represented by
Zhukovsky's "Interior" (1918) which deals with Chekhov's theme of declining
manor-houses.
The
pride of the gallery are the works by Nikolai Roerich, an enlightener,
scientist and traveller. The sixty paintings, a gift from the artist's son,
were created in the last decade of his life. They reflect two major subjects
of the painter's art -Russia ("Pskov", 1935-1936; "Idols", 1943, "Nastasya
Mikulichna", 1943) and the East ("Santana", sketches of the Himalayas). Among
them "Nastasya Mikulichna" and "Santana" evoke special interest. The former
contains the image - symbol that expressed Roerich's views on the historical
ways of Russia. The latter testifies to Roerich's interest in eastern
philosophy.
Works by
Gritsyuk, a Novosibirsk painter, represent the art of the last decade. His
still lives and industrial landscapes are expressive and decorative.
A
significant place in the collection belongs to the works of Novosibirsk
painters, graphic artists and sculptors (V.Semenova, G.Kurochkina-Domashenko,
N.Domashenko, Ya.Yakovlev and many others). They constantly participate both
in local, republican and all-Union exhibitions. Their art is marked by high
humanism with all the diversity of genres and subjects, as well as by a quest
for style.
Exercises.
Ex.1.
Answer the following questions:
1.
How many works of art are there in the
Novosibirsk picture gallery?
2.
What sections does the leading place
belong to?
3.
What is Old Russian art represented by?
4.
What genres do the works of Shishkin and
Kuindzhi belong to?
5.
What do Surikov's sketches convey?
6.
What artistic trend is represented by the
canvas "Interior", 1918?
7.
Why do many painters depict people of
Siberia?
8.
What is the gallery proud of?
9.
Do many Novosibirsk painters exhibit their
canvas in the picture gallery? What are their works?
Ex.2.
Complete the following sentences using the words from the box, according to
the text:
1.
Exhibited here are over 5 hundred works
of...
2.
These valuable icons show...
3.
These icons are distinguished by...
4.
One of the major works of that period is…
5.
The sixty paintings, a gift from the
artist's son, were created...
6.
The former contains the image-symbol
that...
7.
Their art is marked by...

painting,
sculpture, graphic and applied arts;
high
humanism with all the diversity of genres and subjects;
simplified iconographic techniques, decorativeness and bright colours;
expressed
Roerich's views on the historical ways of Russia;
a deep
feeling for line and colours;
in the
last decade of his life;
"The
Gipsy" by Golovin, a designer of stage sets who was involved in the famous
Russian ballet seasons in Paris.
Ex.3.
Find in the text
a)
synonyms to: artist, canvas, present,
reflect, show.
b)
antonyms to: to be involved in, to
contain, bright colours, to participate.
Ex.4.
Which is the odd word out?
a)
a drawing, a sketch, an icon, a picture, a
canvas, a declaration.
b)
Still life, portrait, landscape, genre,
seaside, masterpiece.
Ex.5.
Translate the following groups of words into Russian:
to
paint-painter-painterly-painting;
to
depict-pictorial-picture-picturesque;
to
master-master-mastery-masterpiece;
to
portray-portrayal-portrait-portraitist-portraiture;
worth-worthly-worthless.
Ex.6.
Find words in the text to match these definitions:
1.
a group of objects that have been
collected;
2.
a person who lives in a place;
3.
a collection of things shown publicly;
4.
a person who designs something;
5.
a type or category of an artistic work,
especially painting.
Speech
Exercises.
Ex. 1.
Answer the questions:
1.
What is one of Siberia's most conspicuous
collections?
2.
How many paintings are there in the
Novosibirsk picture gallery?
3.
What art school is Old Russian painting
represented?
4.
Do Siberian icons make up quite a special
group in the collection?
5.
What canvases by famous artists of the XIX
century can you find in this picture gallery?
6.
What is the gem of Novosibirsk picture
gallery?
7.
Whose brush creates the expressive and
decorative industrial landscapes of the last decade?
Ex.2.
Imagine the conversation between the man and the woman, either just before or
just after visiting of the Novosibirsk picture gallery.
Ex.3.
Comment on the following quotations:
a)
Art ... is a veil rather than a mirror (O.
Wilde, Intensions)
b)
Only skilled artists should draw from live
models.
c)
Art has an educative mission.
Ex.4.
Look at the picture and describe it.

Ex.5.
Learn the following dialogue.
A: Oh,
look, what a wonderful landscape!
B: No
wonder. It attracted your attention. It's Shishkin's "The Pine-Wood". It is
the real masterpiece.
A:
Shishkin was fond of Russian nature, wasn't he?
B: Yes,
he was. He loved the tranquillity of Russian woods and the vast expanses of
Russian fields.
A: At all
times artists often turned to nature for inspiration.
B:
Shishkin did, of course. And I should say, he bad an instinctive feeling for
nature.
A: The
painting looks very realistic. You get an impression that you are in this wood
yourself, don't you?
B: Yes,
you are right. I quite agree with you. Shishkin is famous for his simplicity
and charity of his artistic language.
Ex.6.
Points to ponder:
1.
Art belongs to people.
2.
Art is truthful only when it serves life.
3.
There are two kinds of art and a pretence
of art.
4.
Any artistic development has a define
social background, and abstractionism is no exception.
5.
A great architect must be a great
sculptor or painter.
6.
We know individuality to be an
indispensable quality of any genuine work of art.
7.
It is said that the role of the artist in
society has always been and always will be to express the life of his day.

N.
GRITSYUK, AN ARTIST. 1966.
Ex.7.
Make a survey, giving a portrait of any Siberian artist.
Ex.8.
Quiz. Are you a good expert of painting?
1. The
Tate Gallery is placed in …
a)
London b) New York c) Novosibirsk d) Moscow
2. The
pride of the Novosibirsk picture gallery is …
a)
the collection of Levitan
b)
the collection of Shishkin
c)
the collection of N.Roerich
d)
the collection of Icons
3.
V.Tretyakov is the founder of the picture gallery in …
a)
Novosibirsk b) Moscow c) St. Petersburg d) Pskov
4. Andrew
Rublyov is famous for his painting…
a)
"Golden Autumn"
b)
"The Pine Wood"
c)
"Trinity"
d)
"The last day of Pompeii"
5. The
canvas "The Volga Boatmen" was painted by the great Russian painter …
a)
B.Perov b) I.Repin c) N.Ge d) B.Surikov
Ex.9.
Give a brief talk about an outstanding landscape painter. Choose one you
really have you liking for.
Ex.10.
Give an account of your own visit to a picture gallery.
Ex.11.
Select a reproduction of any historic genre painting and discuss it according
to the following outline:
1. The
general effect
(The
title and name of the artist. The period or trend represented. Where it is
exhibited)
2. The
contents of the picture
(The
Place, Time and setting, dress, environment, etc.)
3. The
composition and colouring
4.
Interpretation and evaluation
(Artistic
skill, feelings, moods, ideas it evokes in the viewer)
Ex.12.
Group discussion
Topic 1.
A great painting enriches our life, just as a great poem does or a great
musical composition.
Topic 2.
The masterpieces of painting are an inexhaustible source of beauty.
Ex.13.
Project: “How similar and different are Novosibirsk and London and their
picture galleries” (The Tale Gallery and the Novosibirsk picture Gallery)
Ex.14.
Compare the painting in Great Britain and in Siberia
|
Facts |
Great Britain |
Siberia |
|
Famous art
galleries, museums
Great artists
Favourite
canvases
Proud of the
gallery
Popular
activities to honour great painters
Well-known films
about the artists |
|
|
Ex.15.
How would you rank these kinds of entertaining in order of importance?
sport,
gardening, photography, theatre, music, cinema, TV, disco, reading, swimming,
painting, singing
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Ex. 16.
What do you take into account when you organize leisure time in such a way?
Ex. 17.
What are people's reasons for collecting reproductions of loving pictures?
Ex.18.
What other museums and art galleries would you like to visit? Why?
Ex.19.
Sum up in what way you understand these:
1. "A picture is a poem without words"
Horace
(65-8BC)
2. "All art is but imitation of nature"
Seneca
(4BC-65AD)
Ex.20.
Respond to the following statement using the essential vocabulary:
"A mere
copier of nature can never produce anything great"
Ex.21.
Write a composition: Why I like painting?