START WITH ART: Musical Group on a Balcony

Good morning, friends! Each day, we embark on a delightful journey through the world of art, uncovering the stories and emotions behind masterpieces from history. Today, we have a beautiful artwork for you to explore—just take a peek below!

Once you’ve had a moment to appreciate it, we invite you to engage the young minds in your life with some thought-provoking questions (listed below in this post). You’ll be amazed at how starting the day with art can spark creativity and inspire critical thinking. Let’s dive in together and see where our imaginations take us!

Title: Musical Group on a Balcony

Artist: Gerrit van Honthorst

Date: 1622

Medium: Oil on panel

Dimensions:  309.9 × 216.4 cm

Start with Art Questions:

• How do the colors and faces of the people make the scene feel lively and full of fun? What do you think each person might be singing or playing?

• What do you notice about the way the artist painted the figures? Where are you (the viewer) standing in this scene? 

• If you could add another animal to the scene with the parrot and the dog, what would it be, and how would it add to the cheerful mood of the painting?

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