START WITH ART: Still Life with Monkey, Fruits, and Flowers

Hello/hello again Today we're beginning our Tuesday (with coffee) by examining the still-life pictured below. Take a look at the painting then read the questions to the students/children in your life and see how starting your day with art can ignite creativity and critical thinking!

Our kids made up an elaborate story about the monkey... what will yours think?

Title: Still Life with Monkey, Fruits, and Flowers

Artist: Jean Baptiste Oudry

Date: 1724

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 141.6 × 144.8 cm

Start with Art Questions: 

• What do you see in the artwork? Can you name some of the fruits and flowers you recognize?

• There's a monkey in the painting. What do you think the monkey is doing?

• Jean Baptiste Oudry was known for his detailed still-life paintings. How does he make the fruits and flowers look so lifelike in this artwork? 

We're starting every day with art (history!). You can too by simply adding our calendar to yours by clicking here then click "add." Share how you're folding this into your daily routine by tagging us on Instagram @pageofarthistory and/or the tag #startwithart 🖼️