Ерус Е.С. All About Arts. Visual Art
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sincerity/with restraint, to depict a person/a scene of common life/the mood
of..., to render/interpret the personality of..., to reveal the person's nature, to
capture the sitter's vitality/transient expression, to develop one's own style of
painting; to conform to the taste of the period, to break with the tradition, to be
in advance of one's time, to expose the dark sides of life, to become famous
overnight, to die forgotten and penniless; his painterly complete command of
colour; finished technique; verve.
Paintings. Genres: an oil painting, a canvas, a water-colour/ pastel picture; a
sketch/study; a family group/ceremonial/intimate portrait, a self-portrait, a
shoulder/length/half-length/knee-length/full-length portrait; a landscape, a
seascape, a genre/historical painting, a still life, a battle piece, a flower piece, a
masterpiece.
Composition and drawing: in the foreground/background, in the
top/bottom/left-hand corner; to arrange symmetrically/asymmetrically/in a
pyramid/in a vertical format; to divide the picture space diagonally, to define
the nearer figures more sharply, to emphasize contours purposely, to be
scarcely discernible, to convey a sense of space, to place the figures against the
landscape background, to merge into a single entity, to blend with the
landscape, to indicate the sitter's profession, to be represented standing.../sit-
ting.../talking..., to be posed/ silhouetted against an open sky/a classic pillar/the
snow; to accentuate smth; brushstroke; stroke; dab; to dab off; smear; a smear
of paint will put it right; touch; finishing touches; to touch up; line; patch; blob,
speck of paint капля, пятно краски; coat of paint; to apply a second coat of
paint; splash of paint; to break the paint; paint spattered.
Colouring: Light and shade effects: subtle/gaudy colouring, to combine form
and colour into harmonious unity; brilliant/low-keyed colour scheme, the colour
scheme where ... predominate; muted in colour; the colours may be cool and
restful/hot and agitated/soft and delicate/dull, oppressive, harsh; the delicacy of
tones may be lost in a reproduction; relations of tone and colour; colour
rendition; effect (often pl); division of colours; the play of colours; intensity;
saturation; colourful; colourless; colourlessness;
Impression. Judgement: the picture may be moving, lyrical, romantic,
original, poetic in tone and atmosphere, an exquisite piece of painting, an
unsurpassed masterpiece, distinguished by a marvellous sense of colour and
composition; artistic; painterly; impression; to produce an impression (on);
pictorial; picturesque; picturesqueness; second-rate; overrated; revolting;
unremarkable; pathetic; crude; sketchy; poor; astonishing; remarkable; superb;
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brilliant; great; outstanding; the picture may be dull, crude, chaotic, a colourless
daub of paint, obscure and unintelligible, gaudy, depressing, disappointing,
cheap and vulgar.
Art Events: art exhibit; exhibit; art exhibition; art gallery; a picture gallery; a
picture show; show; one-man exhibition; private exhibition; at the exhibition;
exhibition halls (rooms); loan exhibition; display; varnishing-day; opening day;
pictures hung on the line.
Painter’s Articles: painter's paint/decorative paint; water paint; flat paint/dull
paint; water-colour; oil-colours/ oil(s); gouache; crayon; hue; colour ton; tint;
half-tint; primary colours/ simple colours/fundamental colours; cold and warm
tones; semi-tones; low-toned pictutres; subdued tones; broken tones; flesh
colour; pastel; light and shade; pastel; pastel shades; to paint in pastel; pastel
blue; play of light; line and colour; colour scheme; palette; coloration; colour
scale/ scale; colour match.
B
Useful adjectives for describing works and performances
adjective meaning example
overrated
not as good as people say It's an overrated film/play.
hackneyed
done so often it is boring The plot was so hackneyed!
impenetrable
complex and impossible to
understand
His films are impenetrable.
disjointed
unconnected and not in a clear
order
The play was disjointed and
difficult to follow.
far
-
fetched
impossible to believe The film
Green Aliens from
Mars was a bit far-fetched.
ri
sque
/n'skei/
slightly immoral and likely to
shock some people
The play was a bit risque, and
some religious leaders
criticised it.
gripping
exciting and keeping your
attention the whole time
It was a gripping film from
start to finish.
harrowing
extremely upsetting It was a harrowing
documentary about war and
refugee camps.
moving
making you feel strong
emotion, especially pity or
sadness
It's a moving story about a
child whose mother dies.
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memorable
you remember it long after That was a memorable
performance.
understated
done or expressed in a simple
but attractive style
The whole ballet is really
understated.
C
Read this extract from an article about the British public's attitude to
modern art. Explain the meaning of the words and phrases in bold:
You have heard it so often, that all those modern artists are only pulling
the wool over the public's eyes, and it is easy to laugh, in a superior kind of
way, both at the more extreme examples of contemporary art and at the
apparent philistinism of its detractors. But, almost by stealth, the British
public has discovered it perhaps does like modern art after all. Has the public
wised up, or has the art dumbed down? If people find that contemporary art is
not so difficult or complicated or highbrow and impenetrable as they once
thought, it could also mean that art is somehow becoming less intelligent, less
sophisticated than it was.
D
The same article puts the attitudes to contemporary art in a historical
perspective.
The current enthusiasm for modern art - there are more people visiting Tate
Modern every week than there were people in Florence at the height of the
Renaissance - appears to be more than a fad. If people got nothing from what
they see there, they would vote with their feet. At the end of the 19th century a
lot of people had problems with Impressionism, and, later, when confronted
with cubist paintings, the gallery-going public had problems with those too. The
surrealists were often deemed mad, but liking surrealism is perfectly sane and
acceptable, and it appears everywhere, from posters to advertising campaigns.
As a result, we are all now more visually literate than before, more immune to
shocks, inured to surprises.
E
Here are some words that can be used to comment on art. Match them
with their definitions and then with their opposites:
highbrow impenetrable sophisticated challenging
dazzling evocative exquisite intriguing peerless tongue-
in-cheek
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1) interesting because it is strange or mysterious
2) calling up images and memories
3) demanding considerable effort to be understood
4) inspiring great admiration because it is brilliant in some way
5) not intended to be taken seriously despite appearing serious
6) showing advanced skills and understanding
7) intended for educated, intelligent people, disapproving
8) extremely difficult to understand
9) having rare beauty or delicacy
10) better than any other
dreary earnest pedestrian run-of-the-mill lowbrow
transparent undemanding clumsy uninspiring
primitive
VOCABULARY PRACTICE
1. Find English equivalents for the following words and word
combinations:
Холст; мольберт; репродукция; зодчество; живопись; разводить краску;
сделать набросок; набросок (3); чертеж от руки; пленэр; портрет по
колено; шедевр; автопортрет; любитель искусства; изостудия; выставка
(3); кисть; график; натюрморт; натюрморт с цветами; плохой художник;
натягивать холст; персональная выставка; вернисаж; набор красок;
мастихин; великолепное владение цветом; отточенное мастерство; плохая
картина, мазня; вид, пейзаж; масляные краски; палитра (2); соотношение
цвета и тона; оттенок; акварель; приемы дивизионизма; натурщик;
позировать художнику; живописный; тема, сюжет в живописи; штрих,
мазок; основные цвета; рисунок и краска; профиль; свет и тени; картинная
галерея; мастерская художника; альбом (2); укрепить мольберт; олифа;
подрамник; рама; размешивать краску; морской пейзаж, марина; фреска;
на фоне; на переднем плане; на заднем плане; прототип; карикатура;
панно; миниатюра; маршан; изобразительных искусства; устанавливать
подлинность картины; соскабливать краску; краска облетает; писать с
натуры; предварительный набросок; приблизительный набросок; эскиз,
этюд; делать поправки; передавать, выражать идею; правдиво изображать.
2. Give an adjective which is opposite in meaning to the following words.
credible/believable
original/novel
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underrated
exaggerated
coherent/smooth-flowing
3. Use adjectives instead of the underlined words in these sentences. Make
any other changes that are necessary to produce a correct sentence.
1) The musical shocked some people because they thought it was immoral and
was attacked by several oliticians and religious figures.
2) Her performance was one of those you will never forget, simply marvellous.
3) I can't remember the last time I saw such a film that keeps you in suspense
and totally absorbed all the time.
4) It was a play that aroused very deep emotions in me.
5) It's a film that is difficult to watch without getting very upset.
6) Some of his films are absolutely impossible to understand because they are
so dense and obscure.
4. Are the following statements true or false according to the texts in C
and D?
1. Most modern art is amusing.
2. Attitudes to modern art are changing in Britain.
3. People may be becoming more sophisticated or art may be becoming
simpler.
4. Not many people visit modern art exhibitions in London these days.
5. People have often found it hard to accept new trends in art.
6. People don't have so much exposure to art these days.
5. Choose a word or phrase from C or D to complete these sentences.
1. Although some people liked the exhibition there were far more
_______________ than enthusiasts among the reviewers.
2. When the price of cinema tickets doubled, the public simply
_______________ and audiences declined dramatically.
3. Politicians have accused TV companies of __________________ their news
broadcasts with the result that there is less public interest in political issues.
4. Every year there seems to be some new food _________________ that is
quickly forgotten when the next thing comes on the scene.
5. Rick managed to ___________________ his wife's _________________ for
several years before she found out about his affair.
6. After spending such a long time camping, they have become
___________________ to the discomfort of living in such a confined space.
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6. Look at the adjectives in E. Divide them into categories:
usually positive associations
usually negative associations
negative or positive associations
7. Choose one of the words from each pair of opposites in E and think of a
work of art (of any kind) that you could apply it to. Write a sentence
explaining why you think it applies.
8. Circle the correct word in bold to complete these sentences.
1. I think that the artist's cartoons are usually rather
highbrow/dreary/lowbrow as they are intended to appeal to a mass audience.
2. When an artist sent in an ordinary red brick to an exhibition, no one was sure
whether it was impenetrable/run-of-the-mill/tongue-in-cheek or intended as a
serious statement.
3. Although these cave paintings were made thousands of years ago they are in
some ways very primitive/pedestrian/sophisticated.
4. I find those painter's pictures of dull grey street scenes rather
dreary/peerless/dazzling.
5. The design on that china plate is earnest/exquisite/transparent - however
did they manage to paint such fine detail?
6. Although his photographs are quite challenging/evocative/intriguing, it is
worth making the effort to understand them.
9. Choose the right answer:
1. Mr Cheater made a living works by famous painters.
a) devising b) faking c) pretending d) shamming
2. A sculpture by Rodin fetched more than two million dollars at the last
month.
a) auction b) gallery c) museum d) sale
3. The .. of Rembrandt's paintings finishes next week.
a) demonstration b) exhibition c) show d) spectacle
4. They thought the painting was genuine but it turned out to be
a) a facsimile b) an imitation c) a replica d) a reproduction
5. There was no difference between the original and the copy.
a) discernible b) discoverable c) knowable d) understandable
6. Mr Adventurous has taken painting since he retired.
a) down b) in c) over d) up
7. A young art student acted as our when we visited the museum.
a) coach b) conductor c) guide d) lead
8. This self-portrait did not come to until after the artists's death.
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a) light b) range c) sight d) view
9. Mr Vernix is the greatest expert on techniques of painting.
a) alive b) live c) living d) nowadays
10. Children and pensioners are admitted to the museum at prices.
a) decreased b) less c) reduced d) undercharged
11. On examination by experts, the picture turned out to be a
a) fabrication b) fake c) fraud d) sham
12. In the . right-hand corner of the portrait there is a flower.
a) front b) high c) top d) up
13. He is sometimes considered to be an outstanding artist, but I consider his
work to be quite…..
a) common b) intermediate c) mediocre d) moderate
14. AH visitors are requested to with the regulations.
a) agree, b) assent c) comply d) consent
15. He made some sketches which would serve as guides when he painted
the actual landscape.
a) elementary b) introductory c) preliminary d) primary
16. Admission to the gallery is except on Saturdays and Sundays when a
charge of one dollar is made.
a) allowed b) free c) nothing d) paid
17. The paintings are hung in heavy gold
a) easels b) frames c) fringes d) rims
18. This beautiful portrait is to Rubens.
a) assigned b) attached c) attributed d) prescribed
19. He earns his living by works of art.
a) recovering b) renewing c) restoring d) reviving
20. That landscape is somewhat of Rembrandt's early work.
a) memorable b) mindful c) reminiscent d) similar
21. The portrait you see here is a very good of my mother.
a) appearance b) likeness c) reproduction d) resemblance
22.I would love to go to the exhibition with you, but I'm afraid I can't ..
a) leave b) lose c) save d) spare
23.He said he had never across a painting which pleased him more.
a) come b) happened c) seen d) viewed
24. I made it quite clear that I had no of selling the portrait.
a) aim b) intention c) meaning d) purpose
10. Match the terms below with their definitions:
1. caricature
2. cartoon
3. collage
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4. diagram
5. drawing
6. fresco
7. graph
8. illustration
9. mural
10. silhouette
11. sketch
12. tapestry
a) a picture made with a pencil
b) a drawing showing the parts of something to explain how it works
c) a drawing showing by a line the connection between two quantities
d) a rough drawing without many details
e) a picture to go with the words of a book
f) a picture in solid black
g) a picture painted in water colour on a surface of fresh wet plaster
h) woven cloth hanging on a wall, with pictures woven from coloured wool or silk
i) a humorous drawing, often dealing with something of interest in the new in
an amusing way
j) a representation of a person made so that aspects of his or her appearance
appear more noticeable than they really are
k) a picture made by an unusual combination of bits of paper, cloth, metal, etc.
l) a picture painted directly onto the wall
11. Use these words to complete the sentences below:
watercolours portrait landscapes still life abstract oils
1. ......................................... Probably the most famous in the world is the
Mona Lisa in the Louvre.
2. ............................................. Van Gogh was famous for his of the
countryside around Aries in the south of France.
3. Picasso's early work was representational, but he soon developed an
interest in art.
4. ........................ Many paintings contain a bowl of fruit and a bottle.
5. .................. If you use , it is easier to correct a mistake than if you
use……… .
An artist can also be called a painter. A painter can also be the person who
paints your house. So, all artists are painters, but not all painters are artists!
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12. Translate the following sentences into English:
A
1. На стенах мастерской висели наброски и картины без рам, главным
образом, копии с картин старых мастеров. 2. На мольберте возле стола
стоял портрет молодой женщины. Это был портрет во весь рост. 3. К стене
был прислонен холст, а на полу лежали кисти, тюбики с краской и
палитра. 4. Он был мастером портрета и завоевал большую известность.
5. Он натянул холст, укрепил мольберт и приготовил краски и палитру.
6. Художник считал целью своей жизни изображение человека и его
характера. 7. Мальчик не знал, как трудно рисовать живую модель. 8. Если
бы он хотел стать художником, он бы учился рисовать. 9. Сочетание света
и тени в картине замечательно. 10. Микеланджело был изумительный
мастер рисунка. 11. В XVII веке портрет был распространен во всей
Европе. 12. Этот автопортрет написан художником в последние годы
жизни. 13. Художник написал целую серию поясных портретов и
портретов во весь рост. 14 . Жанровая живопись была особенно популярна
в Голландии в XVII веке. Голландские живописцы писали жанровые
сценки, архитектурные интерьеры, натюрморты из цветов, а также
фруктов и утвари.
B
Внутри Академии много бесполезного: покрытые вековым слоем
пыли слепки, помятые картонные модели архитекторов времен борьбы с
излишествами, отобранные в фонд рисунки, на которые мало кто
ориентируется, стеклянные диапозитивы, нелепые в век компьютеров.
Двор, подобно многим помещениям Академии, никак не используется и
почти всегда закрыт. Закрыты все четыре двери, над которыми значатся
основные направления школы: “Живопись”, “Скульптура”, “Архитектура”,
“Воспитание”. Искусствоведы, появившиеся в 1937-м году, полагают, что
последнюю функцию они взяли на себя. И вправду, кому как не
искусствоведам наставлять и воспитывать слишком замкнутых на
вопросах техники художников?
Вмешательство советской власти не прошло, конечно, для
художественного учебного заведения даром. В начале XXI века Академия
все еще пользуется славой сверхконсервативного учебного заведения: в то
время как в Европе уже давно утрачены традиционные приемы ремесла, и
студенты практикуются в сборке инсталляций из всевозможного
подручного мусора, здесь по-прежнему рисуют натюрморты и штудируют
анатомию. И выученики Репинки востребованы во всем мире, например,
как портретисты или как учителя рисования.
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13. Use the following words and word combinations in situations of your
own:
1. tubes of oils; a box of water-colours; crayons; palette; to paint a picture; to
doubt if; no ordinary painting; to depict; colours; cost smb. much effort; to sigh
with relief;
2. a lifetime dream; to exhibit smth. in a show; selection committee; to be
accepted for the show; to hang in an inconspicuous place; small in size; art
critics; to be distinguished by a marvellous sense of colour and composition; a
mature artist; to have no doubt; to excite some noticeable comment; to award a
prize;
3. to have a painter for a neighbour; to display an insatiable curiosity about
one's studio; to take advantage of the opportunity; to sigh with relief; to draw a
curtain aside; a life-sized portrait; to paint against the background of smth.;
glowing colours; to be drawn with utmost care and precision; to be lost in
admiration; to become aware of smb.'s presence; to blush to the top of one's
ears.
14. a) Give Russian equivalents for the following English proverbs and say-
ings (or translate them into Russian), b) Explain in English the meaning of
each proverb, c) Make up a dialogue to illustrate one of the proverbs:
1. When one loves his art no service seems too hard. 2. The devil is not so
black as he is painted. 3. When in doubt leave it out. 4. Art is long, life is short.
5. That's a horse of another colour. 6. A thing of beauty is a joy forever. 7. Art
lies in concealing art. 8. Art has no enemy except ignorance.
COMMUNICATION
Use the Topical Vocabulary in answering the questions:
1. What service do you think the artist performs for mankind? 2.
Historically there have been various reasons for the making of pictures, apart
from the artist's desire to create a work of visual beauty. Can you point out
some of them? 3. How does pictorial art serve as a valuable historical record?
What can it preserve for the posterity? 4. There are certain rules of composition
tending to give unity and coherence to the work of art as a whole. Have you
ever observed that triangular or pyramidal composition gives the effect of
stability and repose, while a division of the picture space diagonally tends to
give breadth and vigour? Be specific. 5. The painter who knows his own craft
and nothing else will turn out to be a very superficial artist. What are some of
the qualities a true artist must possess? 6. Why does it sometimes happen that