Genres of Paintings Painting Genres    

Lesson 22: History - Battle of Bunker Hill

by E. Percy Morgan

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the artwork's genre.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

In 1782, seven years after the Battle of Bunker Hill, an American delegation traveled to Paris, France to negotiate a peace treaty with the British to end the Revolutionary War. Benjamin West's painting, 'American Commissioners of the Preliminary Peace Agreement with Great Britain,' shows only the American delegation. The British delegation is missing. It is said the British delegation refused to sit for the picture. West left the painting unfinished as a testament to the division that remained between the Americans and the British.

Vocabulary

Troops: Soldiers or armed forces.
General: A commander of an army, or an army officer of very high rank.
Casualty: A person killed or injured in a war or accident.

Concepts

1. History paintings are historically the most respected genre of painting.
2. Contrary to what you might think from the name, history paintings do not always depict true life events from history.
3. The Latin word 'historia' means 'story,' and is where 'history paintings' get their name.
4. History paintings tell stories, whether true events from history or fictitious stories from the imagination.
5. History paintings may also be called 'historical paintings.'
6. Select types of history paintings include, 1) Religious, 2) Literary (books other than mythological), 3) Allegorical (contains symbolism or hidden meanings), and 4) Historical (real historical events).
7. See below examples of four common types of history paintings: 1) Gerard van Honthorst's 'Adoration of the Shepherds' (Religious - Baby Jesus), 2) Sir John Everett Millais' 'Ophelia' (Literary - Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'), 3) C. Allan Gilbert's 'All is Vanity' (Allegorical - Lady Looking in Mirror vs Skull), and 4) 'Declaration of Independence' by John Trumbull (Historical).

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Zoom in to find the following in the artwork:

• British Soldiers
• American Soldiers
• British Flag
• British General Leading the Charge
• Muskets/Rifles
• People in Disguise
• Casualties
• Drum and Drumsticks
• Ships Firing Cannons

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Map the Artwork

Zoom in on the map of New England to find Boston, Massachusetts, the location of the painting.

Activity 4: Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 47 of 'Third Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Activity 5: Listen to the Sounds of the Revolutionary War: Rifles, Fifes, and Drums

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The characters in the artwork are the American and British soldiers of the Revolutionary War.

1 / 5

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 5

Answer 2

The setting is Bunker Hill.

2 / 5

Question 3

Who won the battle?

3 / 5

Answer 3

The British won the battle when the American soldiers ran out of ammunition.

3 / 5

Question 4

Into which genre is this painting classified?

4 / 5

Answer 4

This painting falls into the history genre.

4 / 5

Question 5

Is the portrait best described as a religious, literary, allegorical, or historical history painting?

5 / 5

Answer 5

This painting is best described as a historical painting within the history painting genre.

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? The characters in the artwork are the American and British soldiers of the Revolutionary War.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is Bunker Hill.
3. Who won the battle? The British won the battle when the American soldiers ran out of ammunition.
4. Into which genre is this painting classified? This painting falls into the history genre.
5. Is the portrait best described as a religious, literary, allegorical, or historical history painting? This painting is best described as a historical painting within the history painting genre.

References

'Battle of Bunker Hill.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'History painting.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.