Painters Born in the 1800s 1800s Painters    

Lesson 19: Meeting of the Brig Mercury with the Russian Squadron After the Defeat of Two Turkish Battleships

by Ivan Aivazovsky

Directions

Study the painting for one week.

Over the week:

• Look at the painting.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Read about the artist.
• Practice reciting the names of the artist and the painting.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Study the review questions.

Synopsis

Ivan Aivazovsky's 'Meeting of the Brig Mercury with the Russian Squadron After the Defeat of Two Turkish Battleships,' shows a naval vessel sailing on a calm sea in the moonlight. The Mercury is worse for the wear, several holes are visible in her sails. On the horizon, the rest of the Russian fleet awaits. Note how Aivazovsky captured the translucent glow of the waves under the moonlight. The Mercury was a real ship, a 20-gun brig, that fought many battles in its time.

Vocabulary

Fleet: A large group of warships under one commander.
Squadron: A group of warships under one commander (smaller than and may be part of a fleet).
Brig: A two-masted sailing ship.
Horizon: The place where the sky meets the land or the sea.
Gun: A weapon with a metal tube from which bullets, shells, or other missiles are shot with explosive force.
Battle: A fight between large, organized armed forces.
Vessel: A ship or large boat.
Sails: A piece of material extended on a mast to catch the wind and propel a boat, ship, or other vessel.
Translucent: Substance that allows light, but not detailed images, to pass through.

Concepts

1. Russian Romantic painter, Ivan Aivazovsky, was born in 1817 in Feodosia, Russian Empire.

2. Zoom in and find Aivazovsky's country of birth (Russia) on the map of Europe.

3. When Aivazovsky was 16, he moved to the Russian capital, Saint Petersburg, to study at the Imperial Academy of Arts.
4. Aivazovsky became a marine master artist. Many of Aivazovsky's works feature the beauty and power of the sea, a common theme in Romantic art.
5. He painted over 6000 paintings in his lifetime.
6. He died in 1900 in his birthplace of Feodosia at the age of 82.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

During the week, study the painting and find the following:

• Ship
• Sails
• Holes in the Sails
• Sky
• Clouds
• Waves
• Horizon
• Russian Fleet on the Horizon
• Moonlight Reflecting off the Clouds
• Moonlight Reflecting off the Waves

Activity 2: Narrate the Painting

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

Activity 3: Complete Vocabulary Activities

• While studying the vocabulary words, point them out in the painting.
• Define each of the vocabulary words in your own words.

Activity 4: Color the Painting   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 26 of 'First Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the painting?

1 / 4

Answer 1

The characters are Russian sailors (unseen).

1 / 4

Question 2

What is the setting of the painting?

2 / 4

Answer 2

The setting is a calm sea.

2 / 4

Question 3

What time is it in the painting?

3 / 4

Answer 3

It is nighttime in the painting.

3 / 4

Question 4

What are the sources of light in the painting?

4 / 4

Answer 4

Light shines from an unseen moon outside the painting and reflects off the clouds above and the waves below.

4 / 4

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the painting? The characters are Russian sailors (unseen).
2. What is the setting of the painting? The setting is a calm sea.
3. What time is it in the painting? It is nighttime in the painting.
4. What are the sources of light in the painting? Light shines from an unseen moon outside the painting and reflects off the clouds above and the waves below.

References

'Ivan Aivazovsky.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Meeting of the Brig Mercury with the Russian Squadron After the Defeat of Two Turkish Battleships.' Wikiart. Wikiart.org. n.p.