Using Paintings in Religious Education
The Virgin and Child with Saints Dominic and Aurea, Duccio, about 1315, tempera on wood
(Luke 1:46-49)
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/duccio-the-virgin-and-child-with-saints-dominic-and-aurea
Background information for teachers (This information will not necessarily be shared with children. These interpretations are only one viewpoint and children should be given an opportunity to form their own opinions about the picture)
The triptych was intended to be portable. There are two doors or shutters either side of the main figures, which can be closed to conceal the figures inside. When the triptych is closed the gable over the door looks like a roof of a church.
The figures above the door are from the Jewish scriptures (Old Testament): Daniel, Moses, Isaiah, David, Abraham, Jacob and Jeremiah. They hold scripture texts in their hands and look down to show us where our attention should be. King David is placed in the middle probably because of his importance in Jesus’ genealogy (Matthew 1: 1-17) and his role as king of Israel (2 Samuel 5:1-3). When the doors are open, Mother and Child are revealed together with two saints. On the left of Mary and Jesus is St Dominic and on the right is St Aurea of Ostia, near Rome. It is thought that the picture was made for the private devotion of a high ranking Dominican who was cardinal of Ostia, which would explain the choice of saints. All the figures collectively suggest that there is a link between Christianity and the holy people who lived before Jesus.
This picture adopts many of the conventions of the icon e.g. the gold background indicates heaven; Mary is larger than the saints because of her role as the Mother of God. She is dressed in blue, which is symbolic of heaven and her face is stylised to show that her beauty is not of this world. Jesus is not in proportion because Duccio would not have painted a baby from life. The baby appears to be playing peek-a- boo with his mother; this suggests the bond of love between them and that he was a very ordinary child.
There is more information about the artist available on the National Gallery website.
The painting provides a starting point to stimulate the children’s imagination but discussion and outcomes should always reflect the scripture stories about Mary.
Depending on their age and ability ensure that the children realise:
o Mary has many titles but Mother of God is her premiere name and the reason why she is honoured by the Church. We find echoes of this in The Magnificat or Mary’s Song of Praise (Luke 1: 46 -55.)
o We do not pray to Mary but ask her to pray for us or with us.
Approach
The picture might be displayed on the interactive board and reflective music played. It is helpful to allow the children to express their own responses to the picture before any general discussion takes place.
When discussion and practical activities have taken place, it is helpful to create a prayerful atmosphere and return to the picture so that the children are given an opportunity to reflect quietly on their own insights.
Some possible activities – these suggestions are only intended to be starting points. The year groups are approximate and questions and activities should be adapted to the needs of the children.
Year 1 / Ask the children to discuss in pairs what they notice in the picture. What do they like about the picture? What do they think Mary and Jesus are doing? What do they think Mary is feeling? Play some reflective music and ask them to think of something that they might like to say to Jesus. Ask the children to paint or draw a picture of Jesus and Mary and decorate it in whichever way they choose. Allow the children to discuss what they have drawn or painted. What can they remember about Mary and why do they think she is important to us?Year 2 / Ask the children to discuss in partners what they like about the picture. What do they find difficult or interesting to understand? Ask them to look closely at Mary and the baby. What do they think Mary is thinking about? How do they think Jesus is feeling? What do they think happened after Mary and Jesus finished their game of peek-a-boo? In pairs think about the stories they know about Jesus’ childhood; what sort of person do they think Mary was? (e.g. the Annunciation Luke 1: 26-38; the Visitation Luke 1: 38- 45; The Nativity Luke 2: 1- 20; the Presentation Luke 2: 22 – 28; the Finding in the Temple Luke 2: 41 – 50 ) Play some reflective music and using a phrase such as ‘Holy Mary Mother of God’ allow the children to compose their own prayer to ask Mary to pray for them.
Year 3 and 4 / Ask the children to discuss in pairs what they find interesting about the picture. Who do they think the other people in the picture are? Why do they think the artist has included them? Why do they think the artist has drawn the figures of differing sizes? Look at the colours, which one do they like best? What do they think the artist is trying to tell us about the relationship between Jesus and Mary? Ask them to discuss in pairs one of the scripture stories they know about Mary. What does it tell them about the relationship between Jesus and Mary? Invite the children to look at the picture (play quiet music if silence is difficult for them). Ask them to ask themselves: What do I see? What do I feel? What do I like? Invite them to talk silently to God about these feelings and thoughts.
Year 5 and 6 / Discuss the picture. Ask the children what they notice about it. Why do they think the artist has chosen to paint it this way? Talk about the fact it is a triptych and an object of devotion. Do they think it would help them to pray, or not? What are their reasons? Look at some other pictures of Mary e.g.
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/leonardo-da-vinci-the-virgin-of-the-rocks
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/bartholomeus-bruyn-the-elder-the-virgin-saints-and-a-holy-woman
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/diego-velazquez-the-immaculate-conception
Now look at the statue of The Walking Madonna by Elizabeth Frink outside Salisbury Cathedral. http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/gallery.php?id=21
What do they think the artists are trying to say about Mary? Think about some of the scripture stories they know about Mary and compare with the paintings and sculpture. Which of the pieces of art comes closest to the gospel stories and why?
Some schools like to pray the Rosary during May. The paintings in the National Galley can also be used as a visual aid for this. A suggested approach would be to create a reflective atmosphere with a stilling exercise or quiet music. Allow the children to look at the picture for a short while and perhaps discuss their reactions. Then read the scripture passage and after a few moments say a decade of the Rosary together.
The Mysteries of the Rosary
Using paintings from the National Gallery
Joyful
o The Annunciation http://nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/duccio-the-annunciation (Luke 1:26-38)
o The Visitation http://nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/french-or-north-italian-the-visitation
(Luke 1:39-56)
o The Nativity http://nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/attributed-to-jacopo-di-cione-and-workshop-the-nativity-and-annunciation-to-the-shepherds (Luke 2:1-20)
o The Presentation in the Temple http://nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/master-of-liesborn-the-presentation-in-the-temple (Luke 2:22-39)
o The Finding of Jesus in the Temple http://nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/bernardino-luini-christ-among-the-doctors (Luke 2:42-52)
Luminous
o The Baptism of Jesus http://nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/piero-della-francesca-the-baptism-of-christ (Matt 3:16-17)
o The Wedding Feast at Cana http://nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/mattia-preti-the-marriage-at-cana (John 2:1-11)
o The Proclamation of the Kingdom http://nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/duccio-jesus-opens-the-eyes-of-a-man-born-blind (Matt 4:12-23)
o The Transfiguration http://nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/duccio-the-transfiguration (Luke 9:28-31)
o The Institution of the Eucharist http://nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/ercole-de-roberti-the-institution-of-the-eucharist (Matt 26: 26-29)
Sorrowful
o The Agony in the Garden http://nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/giovanni-bellini-the-agony-in-the-garden (Luke 22:39-44)
o The Scourging at the Pillar http://nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/attributed-to-sodoma-head-of-christ or http://nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/diego-velazquez-christ-contemplated-by-the-christian-soul (Matt 27:26)
o The Crowning with Thorns http://nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/attributed-to-lo-spagna-christ-crowned-with-thorns
o The Carrying of the Cross http://nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/ambrogio-bergognone-christ-carrying-the-cross (Luke 23:26-32)
o The Crucifixion http://nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/raphael-the-crucified-christ-with-the-virgin-saints-and-angels (Matt 27:33-50)
Glorious
o The Resurrection http://nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/attributed-to-jacopo-di-cione-and-workshop-the-resurrection (Matt 28: 1-7)
o The Ascension http://nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/attributed-to-jacopo-di-cione-and-workshop-the-ascension (Luke 24:50-51)
o The Descent of the Holy Spirit http://nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/barnaba-da-modena-pentecost (Acts 2:2-4)
o The Assumption http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/matteo-di-giovanni-the-assumption-of-the-virgin (Church tradition)
o The Coronation http://nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/bernardo-daddi-the-coronation-of-the-virgin (Church tradition)