English painters

William Hogarth (1697-1764) was the first great English painter who raised English pictorial
art to a high level of importance. He was a man of remarkably individual character and
thought. W. Hogarth had friends among famous English writers J. Swift, H. Filding. He was
the first English painter who brought painting closer to literature and theatre.
He proclaimed himself a "Comic History Painter", and the result was one of the most
famous moral "Marriage a la Mode».
The Marriage Contract is the first of this serie. The subject of the picture is a protest against
marriage for money and vanity.
Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723—1792), the first President of the Royal Academy of Arts, was
not only a painter but the founder of the academic principles of the "British school".
Reynolds was the most outstanding portraitist of the 18th century. In his pictures he did not
only paint portraits but produced characters.
Thomas Gainsborough (1727— 1788) was a brilliant portrait painter. A good amateur
violinist and a lover of the drama, he was an artistic person. T. Gainsborough is the creator
of the great English school of landscape painting. His great love for the English country and
his delicate understanding of nature are felt in his pictures.
John Constable is one of the greatest landscape painters. He was the first landscape painter
who considered that every painter should make his sketches direct from nature, which is
working in the open air. Constable was a realist. The most famous of his works are “Flatford
Mile”, “The white horse”, “The Hay wain”, “Waterloo Bridge”, “From Whitehall stairs” and
others. Constable may truly be considered the father of modern landscape painting.
Another famous English painter was Joseph Turner (1775—1851), whose business was to
paint the light. He proved that with the help of light it is, possible to show qualities of any
subject.
We know practically nothing about Turner's life. Son of a London barber, he started drawing
and painting when he was a little boy. When Turner was thirteen, he chose the artistic career.
In 1802 Turner was elected academician of the Royal Academy, where his oil paintings had
been exhibited.
He died at the age of seventy-six.
Turner was a representative of Romanticism. The description of nature dominated in his
paintings. In his work with colour he anticipated, in some degree, the practice of
impressionists. In his late works he anticipated sometimes the practice of expressionists of
the 20th.
Turner's "The Shipwreck", "Burning of the Houses of Parliament" and "Snow Storm" are
masterpieces of the great artist.

A the first President of the Royal Academy of Arts

the founder of the academic principles of the "British school"
outstanding portraitist of the 18th century
In his pictures he did not only paint portraits but produced characters.
B His business was to paint the light. He proved that with the help of light it is, possible
to show qualities of any subject
Son of a London barber, he started drawing and painting when he was a little boy.
He was a representative of Romanticism.
 In his late works he anticipated in some degree the practice of expressionists of the
20th.
C raised English pictorial art to a high level of importance
He was the first English painter who brought painting closer to literature and theatre.
He proclaimed himself a "Comic History Painter"
“The Marriage Contract” is a protest against marriage for money and vanity.
D He was the first landscape painter who considered that every painter should make his
sketches direct from nature, which is working in the open air.
He may truly be considered the father of modern landscape painting
E a brilliant portrait painter
he is the creator of the great English school of landscape painting.

Match the correct variant:

1. How old was Van Gogh when he started painting?
a) 27, b) 37, c) 17, d) 26.
2. What was he before becoming a painter?
a) a teacher and a sailor, b) a preacher, a teacher and a doctor,
c) a teacher, a dealer and a preacher, d) a dealer, a farmer.
3. What was wrong with him?
a) He was mentally ill. b) He was emotional.
c) He was disabled. d) He was left-handed.
4. How did he die?
a) His heart was broken. b) He was shot by his brother.
c) He had a strong heart attack. d) He shot himself.
5. What was his style of painting?
a) classical, b) modern, c) different from classical art,
d) extraordinary.
6. How many pictures did he sell in his lifetime?
a) one, b) many, c) none, d) twenty-one
Mark if the following statements are true or false:
1. Van Gogh was an outstanding actor of the 19th century.
2. Van Gogh was born in 1853 in Holland.
3. Van Gogh started painting when he was 17.
4. Before becoming a painter Van Gogh was an accountant.
5. His paintings are full of colour and sunlight.
6. He liked to work slowly.
Make questions for the answers:
1. In France.
2. His friend.
3. In 1890.
4. Millions of pounds.
5. Freely and quickly.
6. Unusual and very emotional.
 English painters
William Hogarth (1697-1764) was the first great English painter who raised English pictorial
art to a high level of importance. He was a man of remarkably individual character and
thought. W. Hogarth had friends among famous English writers J. Swift, H. Filding. He was
the first English painter who brought painting closer to literature and theatre.
He proclaimed himself a "Comic History Painter", and the result was one of the most
famous moral "Marriage a la Mode».
The Marriage Contract is the first of this serie. The subject of the picture is a protest against
marriage for money and vanity.
Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723—1792), the first President of the Royal Academy of Arts, was
not only a painter but the founder of the academic principles of the "British school".
Reynolds was the most outstanding portraitist of the 18th century. In his pictures he did not
only paint portraits but produced characters.
Thomas Gainsborough (1727— 1788) was a brilliant portrait painter. A good amateur
violinist and a lover of the drama, he was an artistic person. T. Gainsborough is the creator
of the great English school of landscape painting. His great love for the English country and
his delicate understanding of nature are felt in his pictures.
John Constable is one of the greatest landscape painters. He was the first landscape painter
who considered that every painter should make his sketches direct from nature, which is
working in the open air. Constable was a realist. The most famous of his works are “Flatford
Mile”, “The white horse”, “The Hay wain”, “Waterloo Bridge”, “From Whitehall stairs” and
others. Constable may truly be considered the father of modern landscape painting.
Another famous English painter was Joseph Turner (1775—1851), whose business was to
paint the light. He proved that with the help of light it is, possible to show qualities of any
subject.
We know practically nothing about Turner's life. Son of a London barber, he started drawing
and painting when he was a little boy. When Turner was thirteen, he chose the artistic career.
In 1802 Turner was elected academician of the Royal Academy, where his oil paintings had
been exhibited.
He died at the age of seventy-six.
Turner was a representative of Romanticism. The description of nature dominated in his
paintings. In his work with colour he anticipated, in some degree, the practice of
impressionists. In his late works he anticipated sometimes the practice of expressionists of
the 20th.
Turner's "The Shipwreck", "Burning of the Houses of Parliament" and "Snow Storm" are
masterpieces of the great artist.

A the first President of the Royal Academy of Arts

the founder of the academic principles of the "British school"
outstanding portraitist of the 18th century
In his pictures he did not only paint portraits but produced characters.
B His business was to paint the light. He proved that with the help of light it is, possible
to show qualities of any subject
Son of a London barber, he started drawing and painting when he was a little boy.
He was a representative of Romanticism.
 In his late works he anticipated in some degree the practice of expressionists of the
20th.
C raised English pictorial art to a high level of importance
He was the first English painter who brought painting closer to literature and theatre.
He proclaimed himself a "Comic History Painter"
“The Marriage Contract” is a protest against marriage for money and vanity.
D He was the first landscape painter who considered that every painter should make his
sketches direct from nature, which is working in the open air.
He may truly be considered the father of modern landscape painting
E a brilliant portrait painter
he is the creator of the great English school of landscape painting.

Match the correct variant:

1. How old was Van Gogh when he started painting?
a) 27, b) 37, c) 17, d) 26.
2. What was he before becoming a painter?
a) a teacher and a sailor, b) a preacher, a teacher and a doctor,
c) a teacher, a dealer and a preacher, d) a dealer, a farmer.
3. What was wrong with him?
a) He was mentally ill. b) He was emotional.
c) He was disabled. d) He was left-handed.
4. How did he die?
a) His heart was broken. b) He was shot by his brother.
c) He had a strong heart attack. d) He shot himself.
5. What was his style of painting?
a) classical, b) modern, c) different from classical art,
d) extraordinary.
6. How many pictures did he sell in his lifetime?
a) one, b) many, c) none, d) twenty-one
Mark if the following statements are true or false:
1. Van Gogh was an outstanding actor of the 19th century.
2. Van Gogh was born in 1853 in Holland.
3. Van Gogh started painting when he was 17.
4. Before becoming a painter Van Gogh was an accountant.
5. His paintings are full of colour and sunlight.
6. He liked to work slowly.
Make questions for the answers:
1. In France.
2. His friend.
3. In 1890.
4. Millions of pounds.
5. Freely and quickly.
6. Unusual and very emotional.