National Gallery of Art :: Education :: Teachers :: School Tours :: French Art

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French Art

Grades 6–12

This tour gives students a taste of French art and explores a variety of themes including artistic styles, portraits of historical figures, scenes from everyday life, and images of patronage and power.

LOOKING AND LEARNING SKILLS
During four to six tour stops in the galleries, students engage in activities—such as looking exercises and working in small groups—that foster conversations about works of art. The following skills are promoted:

  • making and voicing careful observations
  • formulating questions that demonstrate curiosity and engagement
  • comparing different works of art and articulating connections between them
  • reasoning with evidence from the works themselves—seeing the works of art as primary sources from which to gather ideas about French art and culture
  • developing new ideas about French art, culture, and history
  • connecting tour ideas to prior knowledge and experience

 

EXAMPLE WORKS FEATURED ON TOUR

  • Example works featured on the Faces and Places school tour http://media.nga.gov/public/objects/4/6/1/1/4/46114-primary-0-740x560.jpg

    Jacques-Louis David,The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries, 1812

    Learn more about this artwork
  • Example works featured on the Faces and Places school tour http://media.nga.gov/public/objects/5/2/2/0/2/52202-primary-0-740x560.jpg

    Auguste Renoir, Pont Neuf, Paris, 1872

    Learn more about this artwork
  • Example works featured on the Faces and Places school tour http://media.nga.gov/public/objects/1/2/6/6/1266-primary-0-740x560.jpg

    Jean-Antoine Houdon, Voltaire, 1778

    Learn more about this artwork
  • Example works featured on the Faces and Places school tour http://media.nga.gov/public/objects/9/9/4/994-primary-0-740x560.jpg

    Jean Siméon Chardin, Soap Bubbles, probably 1733/1734

    Learn more about this artwork

LOGISTICAL INFORMATION

Group Size: Up to 60 students
Length: 75 minutes
Meeting Location: West Building, Rotunda, Main Floor

ADDITIONAL GALLERY RESOURCES

 

Download poster
Download

Art in the Classroom Poster for Manet's The Railway
(PDF 522kb)

This file is in PDF format and requires Adobe Reader.

Schedule a Tour

Note: We are no longer accepting tour requests for spring 2013. We will begin accepting fall 2013 requests on August 1.

Pre-Visit Information

Watch a video or download a presentation to show your students prior to your visit. View our museum policies, location, parking, accessiblity, security, lunch options, and other important information about visiting.

Questions

Our tour scheduler is available to answer questions on Monday through Wednesday between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. (September through May). Please contact her at (202) 842-6249 schooltourrequests@nga.gov.

Also see our Frequently Asked Questions about School Tours.

Feedback

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