The Bible Story Part 3

What did the army of the Midianites look like when they came to fight the children of Israel? 318, 322 H.T.

Read the story. 319 H.T.

How and by whom is meal ground in Palestine? 176 S.A.

The extent of Solomon's kingdom was from "Dan to Beersheba"; find northern and southern points 14 T.J.

7. How Can I Get My Child to Use THE BIBLE STORY for Himself?

By giving him some _Things to Do_. It is a splendid plan to take advantage of the child's natural eagerness to look at the pictures in THE BIBLE STORY, so as to make that desire of real educational value.

The following are delightful for a child to do:--

Study closely the pictures on pages 176, 196, 204, and 254 of "The Golden Book," read the interesting notes on the back of each picture, and the story on page 208 of "The Golden Book." Then tell the difference between traveling in Bible lands and in our land.

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Look at the pictures of Bethlehem on pages 138 and 248 of "The Golden Book" and page 28 L.J. and read the story on the back of each. Then tell how David's home and life were different from yours. Read the story on page 229 G.B. and see what wonderful things happened in this little town.

Read the story on page 214 G.B. and look at the pictures on pages 88,92,188, of "The Golden Book" and 192 T.J., then compare a house in the Holy Land with your house.

Read the story on page 217 of "The Golden Book" and look at the pictures opposite and on page 172 of "The Golden Book." Then tell or write what you think are the pleasant things about living in Bible lands. Look at the picture on page 236 and tell why it was good to live there in the year 33 A.D.

In your sand pile build a tiny city of Jerusalem. You will know just how to make it after you have read the story on page 218 of "The Golden Book." Put it on a hill with valleys on three sides of it. Use stones to build the wall. (See page 216 T.J.) Put a large white stone where you think the temple stood. The picture on page 480 in "Hero Tales" will show you how the city really looked. After you have built the city and neighboring hills and valleys as well as you can, show them to your mother and father and explain all the interesting features. Tell about the path on the wall and its use; tell why the city was built on a hill; tell about the gates in the wall. (See page 215 T.J.) Explain who built the temple and tell anything else you may know about the greatest city of the Bible lands.

In the back of the volume, "The Songs of the Ages," you will find an index of ill.u.s.trations and can easily turn to all the pictures of Jerusalem in these volumes and learn some interesting things.

8. How Can I Interest My Child in the Great Works of Art in THE BIBLE STORY?

The interest of children in works of art, if unguided, usually lasts only for a moment. Let some one, however, begin to talk about the picture and the child fixes eager eyes upon it and follows every word with breathless attention. "Talking about a picture is simply letting a picture talk," and many of these pictures are volumes in themselves which one must read carefully to know all they are meant to tell. The following paragraphs furnish questions and suggest lines of study which will often open the door of the child's mind to artistic appreciation.

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_Talking about Pictures_

What painter of Madonnas was called the "peasant painter of Spain"? 30 G.B.

There are four Madonnas by this artist in "The Golden Book" 30, 348, 436, 450 G.B.

Which two most resemble each other?

How do even these two differ?

Which is thought to be the most beautiful of all?

Which is your favorite? Why?

Find the one painted without the child.

Did you notice two little seraphs that are in almost the same position on pages 436 and 450 G.B.?

In which of the pictures do you think the painter has shown the most loving mother?

Describe some other children's pictures painted by this great man. 336, 480 G.B.

Who is generally considered the greatest of all painters? 220 G.B.

Name the most famous Madonna in the world 220 G.B.

(Notice how lines drawn from the head of the Madonna to the heads of the two supporting figures and across their base make a triangle. This balance gives strength to the picture and makes it more pleasing to look at. One reason why art critics say this picture is "without one false note" is its perfect balance. Remember that this regularity and balance of composition mean repose in a picture while a combination of slanting lines and lessening figures suggests motion. (See 38 T.J.) If slanting lines suggest motion, perpendicular ones show rest, as seen in the figure of Ruth (44 T.J.). These perpendicular lines are very much used by the great artists; for instance, look at pages 262, 372, 382, 390 S.A.)

Raphael painted many pictures besides Madonnas. One of his most famous pictures is on page 366 L.J. There are two other Madonnas by this same artist in "The Golden Book" (pages 356, 444). Describe them and learn their names.

What do you think is interesting about the Madonna picture by Carlo Dolci on page 340 G.B.?

Where does the light come from in the Madonna picture on page 396?

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Note another very much like Dolci's (page 400): Can you explain this light?

In the picture on page 414 G.B. notice how glad every one is that the Christ Child has come: Why do you think the artist made them look so happy?

Which of the Madonnas on pages 364, 392, 418, 432, 470 G.B. do you like best, and why?

Find on page 42 G.B. one of the most popular modern Madonnas. This is something like the Madonna on page 450 but it is not considered so good. What do you think is the difference between the two?

What does the Bible call the three men represented as looking at the baby in the Madonna picture on page 408 G.B.?

What is unusual about the picture by Bouguereau on page 332 G.B.?

Describe the picture by the same artist on page 426.

In what way is the picture on page 332 like the one by Murillo on page 450?

How is the picture on page 404 like the Adoration of the Angels on page 426?

There are many pictures of the face of Jesus in "The Golden Book" that are worth studying and comparing. Turn, one after another, to the pictures on pages 74, 104, 288, 308; look at each of the faces, and say which you like best, and why.

Name a very great French artist who was a painter of landscapes. 38 G.B.

What sort of subject did Sir Joshua Reynolds choose for many of his paintings?

In what country did he live? 46,374,382 G.B.

(A group of men in England called the Pre-Raphaelites were fond of painting pictures that tell a story. One of the most famous of these, an allegorical picture, is given on page 466 G.B. It is interesting to trace out its meaning. See how many prominent features of this picture you can pick out. Notice the three lights: the moonlight, symbol of earth's dimness; the lantern light, symbol of the searching light of conscience; the light around the Master's head, symbol of the light of love. One of the Master's hands is bound by the light of conscience, but the other is free to knock at the door of the heart of man. The brambles and vines of neglect and sin have grown over the door and it has no latch. It can be opened only from within.)

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