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Nineteenth-Century America in Art & Literature

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Art Inquiry: The Hobby Horse and verse
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Unknown artist, The Hobby Horse (about 1840)
Today most people use a camera, rather than paint, to make a portrait.

Learn more about this work of art by answering the multiple-choice questions below. Mouse over the image for clues!

1. Why were hobbyhorses practical toys for children?

  1. They were sturdy.
  2. Both boys and girls could ride them.
  3. As adults, children would use real horses for transportation.
  4. Keeping live horses in the house is too messy.

2. What natural materials were used to make the hobbyhorse?

  1. Wood
  2. Animal skin
  3. Horsehair
  4. All of the above

3. What type of power source does the lamp use?

  1. Wood
  2. Coal
  3. Oil
  4. Electricity

4. What item of clothing lets us know which child is a boy and which is a girl?

  1. Dresses
  2. Collars
  3. Hats
  4. Shoes
 
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American 19th Century, The Hobby Horse, c. 1840, oil on canvas, National Gallery of Art, Gift of Edgar William and
Bernice Chrysler Garbisch