Enjoy Art, Music, and Poetry with the Transfiguration

Looking to add some art, music, and poetry to life and learning this week?

Perhaps the plans I just laid our for our upcoming AMP club can help.

Once again this week, we'll spend part of our Art-Music-Poetry club time with a focus on faith, reflecting back on this Sunday's readings about the Transfiguration while doing a picture study. Then, we'll have some free choice mountain-themed music appreciation, a bit of Emily Dickinson for poetry an some drawing time.

Study The Transfiguration by Raphael

Source: Wikipedia

We'll begin by asking if anyone can recall who Raphael is and when he lived (an artist during the High Renaissance.)

Then, we'll recall some of the characteristics common to the High Renaissance, such as:

• perspective.
• precise anatomical correctness.
• authentic emotionality and expression.

We will also see if anyone cane name describe some characteristics of Raphael's individual style, such as:

• clarity
• rich color
• effortless composition
• grandeur

After that, we'll study the last painting Raphael painted - The Transfiguration - a painting that has been described as Raphael's most beautiful and divine and was commissioned in 1517 by Cardinal Giulio de Medici, who later became Pope Clement VII and currently hangs in the Vatican Museums.

To study the painting, we will examine it for 30-60 seconds. Then, I will remove the image and ask each child to narrate some of the details that they noticed.

Then, we will look at the painting again using this Youtube video or looking at a reproduction and reading a reflection of it found at Loyola Press.

Add Some Music Appreciation

Since we'll be talking about the Transfiguration, which happened on a mountain, we'll explore clips of classical music inspired by mountains, letting each child pick one title to listen to a portion of and chatting about whatever resonates with the children.

Chat about Poetry

Continuing with the mountain theme, we'll read a brief poem by Emily Dickinson entitled "The Mountain" and chat about any reactions the children have to it.

The Mountain 

by Emily Dickinson

The mountain sat upon the plain

In his eternal chair,

His observation omnifold,

His inquest everywhere.

The seasons prayed around his knees,

Like children 'round a Sire:

Grandfather of the days is he,

Of dawn the ancestor.

Create Mountain Artwork and Pray 

Finally, we'll create artworks of mountains using a Creating a Masterpiece Mountain Hike drawing project. (You could also choose a video from Youtube at the level of your children or simply create original artwork instead.)

If there is time, we will conclude by recalling that prayer is one of the pillars of Lent and, then, try out an imaginative prayer exercise from IgnatianSpritiuality.com.

I pray these ideas might help you and yours enjoy art, music, and poetry as you continue your Lenten journey.