Wednesday, 17 September 2014

Take-1-Picture Cross Curriculum Project


Saint Michael Triumphant over the Devil, 1468
by Bartolome Bermejo

Once again all classes across the school will be undertaking the Take-1-Picrture Project for the first two weeks of school. 

Using the painting, Saint Michael Triumphant over the Devil (1468), teachers plan cross-curricular learning opportunities for pupils.  Every pupil in Year 2 to Year 6 will have the opportunity to see the ‘real thing’ by visiting the National Gallery.

Year 6           Wednesday 10th September
Year 5           Wednesday 10th September
Year 4           Friday 19th September
Year 3           Thursday 18th September
Year 2           Thursday 18th September
Year1/2         Friday 19th September  (YEAR 2 pupils Only)

The culmination of work from this project will be shared with parents at our Gallery showing on Wednesday 22nd October and Thursday 23rd October between 3.00-4.00pm. We hope you can join us for this event.

 

Additional Information About The Painting

With an extravagant swirl of his red and gold cloak, Saint Michael wields his sword; there is no hope for the devil at his feet. Taken from the Book of Revelation, this episode caught the medieval imagination, becoming a popular subject for paintings.

Saint Michael is an important figure in the three monotheistic religions, Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Leader of the army of God against the forces of evil, his attributes include a sword and scales, and he is shown with a dragon or serpent at his feet, dressed in armour. Here, his idealised face contrasts with the portrait of the donor Antonio Juan on the left of the painting.

This panel originally hung at the altar in the church of San Miguel in Tous, a town near Valencia in Spain. Lit by candlelight, the glowing red eyes of the devil must have seemed dramatic to church-goers of the time.

Spanish artist Bermejo shows off his mastery of the oil painting technique. He contrasts the gold leaf background with the painted golden armour worn by the angel, a reflection of the holy city of Jerusalem visible in the breastplate.