Genres of Paintings Painting Genres    

Lesson 35: Wildlife - The Monarch of the Glen

by Sir Edwin Landseer

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 English painter Edwin Landseer's painting, 'The Monarch of the Glen,' a stag stands with its head high before the dramatic backdrop of rocky mountains. The painting title is a bit of a misnomer since the stag's twelve-point antlers only qualifies him as a 'royal stag.' A 'monarch stag' requires at least 16 points on his antlers.

Vocabulary

Wildlife: Wild animals collectively; the native fauna (and sometimes flora) of a region.
Expressionist: A style of painting, music, or drama in which the artist or writer seeks to express emotional experience rather than impressions of the external world.
Tropical: Resembling the tropics, especially in being very hot and humid with lush vegetation.

Concepts

1. Wildlife art features animals in a variety of settings.
2. Wildlife art is also sometimes called 'animal painting.'
3. Wildlife art is historically not a respected type of painting.
4. See below a rank-order list of the hierarchy of genres, from least respected to most respected.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Zoom in to find the following in the artwork:

• Stag
• Rocky Mountains
• Brush
• Raised Head
• Something with 12 Points

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 to find England, the home country of the artist.

Activity 4: Color England on the Map   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 65 of 'Third Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Activity 5: Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 66 of 'Third Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 4

Answer 1

There are no human characters, but the stag might be considered the main character.

1 / 4

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 4

Answer 2

The setting is outdoors in a mountainous location.

2 / 4

Question 3

Why isn't the stag a 'Monarch Stag' as is suggested by the painting title?

3 / 4

Answer 3

The stag isn't a 'Monarch Stag' as it does not have 16 points on its antlers.

3 / 4

Question 4

Into which genre is this painting classified?

4 / 4

Answer 4

This painting falls into the wildlife art (or animal painting) category.

4 / 4

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? There are no human characters, but the stag might be considered the main character.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is outdoors in a mountainous location.
3. Why isn't the stag a 'Monarch Stag' as is suggested by the painting title? The stag isn't a 'Monarch Stag' as it does not have 16 points on its antlers.
4. Into which genre is this painting classified? This painting falls into the wildlife art (or animal painting) category.

References

'The Monarch of the Glen (painting).' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Animal Painter.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Hierarchy of genres.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.