If you see this message, your browser is unable to view the answers through dynamic HTML. The answers to the questions are:

  1. Can you describe some circles? (The mother's braids, her arms around her husband, the dog around his feet, the mother's lap as a backdrop for the toy animals)
  2. Can you match the animals with their countries? (Lion is a symbol for Britain, the polar bear is Russia, the cockerel represents France and the Turkey is an obvious reference to Turkey!)
  3. See if you can find them. (A dog represents faithfulness; there is a medal awarded to those who fought in the battles of the Crimean War; a dove symbolizes peace; a myrtle bush symbolizes eternal love; a painting about a battle; and a book titled The Newcomes, a story about a brave military hero.)
  4. What can we conclude about the status of this family from their clothing? (luxury fabrics of velvet and sheer silk with embroidery and ribbons)
  5. Their furnishings? (they own a painting, a sofa with a carved frame, and a Turkish carpet)
  6. What role do you think Millais valued for a Victorian wife? (The spiritual center of the family. In many ways the mother here recalls a Madonna in a medieval altarpiece.)
  7. What role do you think children played in Victorian England? (Adoring, obedient, accepting of the father's absolute authority.)
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Peace Concluded



Discussion Questions:

Peace Concluded
Peace Concluded
John Everett Millais
1856
Oil on canvas
The Putnam Dana McMillan Fund

Key Ideas
Story
Background
Discussion Questions

Look

  1. Think of the phrase "the family circle." The composition of this painting is based on shapes and lines that encircle, or embrace. Some of the lines are IMPLIED, making your eye complete a circle through direction or contrast.
    Can you describe some circles? The mother's braids, her arms around her husband, the dog around his feet, the mother's lap as a backdrop for the toy animals

    The implied triangle connecting the mother and her daughters indicates the area where all the activity essential to the message of the painting takes place.

    The implied triangle connecting the mother and her daughters indicates the area where all the activity essential to the message of the painting takes place.


Detail of toy animals from Peace Concluded

Detail of toy animals from Peace Concluded

  1. Millais used toy animals to represent the countries involved in the Crimean War.
    Can you match the animals with their countries? Lion is a symbol for Britain, the polar bear is Russia, the cockerel represents France and the Turkey is an obvious reference to Turkey!

  2. There are many other symbols in this painting that help to tell its story.
    See if you can find them. A dog represents faithfulness; there is a medal awarded to those who fought in the battles of the Crimean War; a dove symbolizes peace; a myrtle bush symbolizes eternal love; a painting about a battle; and a book titled The Newcomes, a story about a brave military hero.

Think

  1. The clothing people wear in paintings, and the furnishings surrounding them are usually chosen to make a statement about the subject of the painting.
    What can we conclude about the status of this family from their clothing? luxury fabrics of velvet and sheer silk with embroidery and ribbons
    Their furnishings? they own a painting, a sofa with a carved frame, and a Turkish carpet
    The number of exquisite toy animals in the daughter's toy box?

  2. There are two interpretations of this painting, one in which the father who has been wounded is home from the war and recuperating surrounded by his loving family, and the other in which the father has shirked his duties to fight for his country by claiming obligations at home, leaving other less powerful and wealthy men to do the fighting for him. Which interpretation do you think is correct? What do you see that makes you say that?

  3. Millais wanted the family members in his painting to serve as examples for the values of Victorian England.
    What role do you think Millais valued for a Victorian wife? The spiritual center of the family. In many ways the mother here recalls a Madonna in a medieval altarpiece.
    What role do you think children played in Victorian England? Adoring, obedient, accepting of the father's absolute authority.
    How might these ideas about the role of children be applied to the state government? Can you think of other examples of art that features private citizens, but makes a statement about government?
Key Ideas Story Background Discussion Questions
 
 

 

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