Velazquez

Prince Balthazar Carlos on a Pony

1st Grade Lesson Plan













Place the following items in a bag.  Hand out "bingo" cards.  Have the children take items out one at a time and tell what they have to do with Velazquez.  Have children draw a picture of the item in any square of the bingo card.  When done, the children will have a bingo card.  Play bingo using candy as markers (I used smarties)

Today's artist is Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velasquez.  he was born in 1599, a long, long time ago (over 400 years).  He was born in a country called Spain.  When he was only 11, he worked for an artist, he was called an apprentice.  At 12, his Dad hired the artist to teach Velazquez art for six years.  When the contract was over, Velazquez was a great artist.

CAMERA:  Velazquez painted "life" as he saw it.  his paintings were like photographs.  He was a Realist.

CROWN:  became a painter for the King when he was 24.  He painted royalty (show pictures of King Phillip IV, Mariana of Austria, Queen of Spain, Infanta Margarita)

MONEY:  never worried about money because he was employed by the King.  (Show portrait of Juan de Pareja, Velasquez's servant and pupil; sold for $5.5 million in 1970).

CANDLE:  Painted light in his paintings.  most of his paintings are dark, then he lights up the main figure or object that he wants us to look at.  (show pictures).

DOLL:  had two daughters, he married his teacher's daughter when he was 20 years old.  They had two daughters and one died as in infant.  The other daughter married his longtime, servant, friend and pupil,, Jaun De Pareja.  He painted for the king until his death when he was 61.  He was painting a portrait of the wedding of Infanta Margarita when he contracted a fever and died.  His wife died a week later.

STUFFED DOG AND MONKEY (could write "pets' in square).  Velazquez would often draw pets in portraits (show pictures with pets in them).

HORSE:  the picture we are studying is that of Prince Don Balthazar Carlos on Horseback.  This was painted in 1635 with oils.  Carlos was 6 years old at the time.  He was to be the King of Spain, but died at the age of 17.  Velazquez was commissioned by the king to paint the Royal Family on Horseback to decorate the parlor.  (show painting)

SMILEY FACE:  Velazquez spent his first few years painting ordinary people.  (show pics).  He would paint them in everyday scenes.  Velazquez loved commoners and royalty alike.  He had happy paintings!  He loved his World!

Bingo Cards