Take One Picture 2023

Enlightening exhibition at the National Gallery which invites primary schools to respond to themes they see in a nominated painting from the gallery.

This year’s picture was Claude-Joseph Vernet's “A Shipwreck in Stormy Seas” from 1773 which I must admit I had never consciously looked at. I always love this show as the children often see different things in the work. It was interesting to see how many associated the ships with slavery and the sea with plastic pollution. Is an indication of what is being taught?

A number of schools imagined diaries of the characters involved and wrote these up on tea-stained paper to look old. One school also made these into messages in bottles. 

There were some lovely collage versions of the picture and even a couple of wonderful boats made of paper and willow shown on waves based on theatre sets off the time.

Heads up to Andrew, 11, from St Anselm's School, Derbyshire who has spotted the discovery of the wreck of Endurance and its barnacle encrusted name plate so his school made versions with other inspirational names.

I also liked the schools who had looked at local goods which might have been on the ships and used that to study those industries. I’d never realised before that Saffron Walden is so named as it was the first place in Britain to grow the plant. I always learn something new at this annual show.

Closes 8 October 2023


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