Metropolitan Museum Visual Analysis
​
1. Go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. When entering the museum, be sure to pick up a floor plan!
2. Locate the following works of art (while getting to know the Museum). You should be able to find everything, but you may ask the guards for help (note: some guards are more knowledgeable than others!) Note which terms might apply to each one.
Jackson Pollock, “Autumn Rhythm” - painting
(The Modern Art Collection, Gallery 918)
Vincent Van Gogh, “Cypresses” – painting
(European Paintings, Gallery 825)
Bernini, "Children Teasing a Faun" - sculpture
(European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, Gallery 534)
Temple of Dendur - architecture (be sure to include the hieroglyphics in your visual analysis)
(The Egyptian Wing – Gallery 131)
Louis Comfort Tiffany, “Autumn Landscape” - stained glass
(American Decorative Arts, Gallery 700)
Frederick Church, “Heart of the Andes” - painting
(American Wing, Gallery 760) or any painting in the same room
Caleb Bingham, “Fur Traders on the Missouri” - painting
(American Wing, Gallery 758)
Pieter Brueghel, “The Harvesters” - painting
(European Paintings, Gallery 642)
Kamal Muhammad,“The House of Bijapur” - painting
(Art of Arab lands, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, South Asia) gallery 463) or any small painting in galleries 464 or 455
3. Write a 2 page visual description of ONE of the above works of art incorporating as many terms (see your notes from the previous class) as apply to that particular piece. If you would like to choose a work that is not on this list, please clear it with me by email.
Assignment Specifications
-
Review the “Analyzing Art” section and the “Terms” Powerpoint on our course e-Portfolio https://elizabetalbert.wixsite.com/dnyart-architecture
-
Analyze your chosen piece in vivid detail.
-
Photograph your chosen work and any other works you wish. Also photograph your receipt.
-
Self-Evaluate your work using Metropolitan Museum Visual Analysis rubric for writing expectations.
-
Revise your paper for thoroughness, organization, grammar, and spelling.
-
Post your assignment and images to a designated page or section on your e-Portfolio (I will show you how to do this in our workshop on 9/18)
-
Submit your assignment to me using Portfolio Tools (I will show you how to do this in our workshop on 9/18
​
​
TIPS!
here are some ways of approaching the assignment
-
summarize the overall appearance, then describe the details work of art
-
describe the composition and then move on to a description of the materials used (acrylic, watercolor, plaster)
-
begin discussing one side of the work and then move across the object to the other side
-
describe things in the order in which they draw your eye around the object, starting with the first thing you notice and moving to the next
​
Click here for an example of an A+ paper
​
​
​