Kindergarten - Velasquez - Prince Balthazar Carlos on His Pony

ART MASTERPIECE LESSON PLAN

Art Guide(s): M. Wells

Grade Level: Kindergarten 

Print: Equestrian Portrait Of Balthasar Carlos

Artist: Diego Velasquez   (Dee-ay-goe Vay-las-qwez) Time allotted: 40 min.

I. Opening Activity: music, props, a question... something to hook the kids right away:

A.) Ride in on a Stick Horse

B.) Show a piece of butcher paper that is the size of the actual painting (82 ½” X 68 ½”) That is SEVEN FEET TALL!

II. Observations of Print:

What do you see in this painting?

What colors do you see?

Is this painting realistic or abstract (not clearly recognizable)?

Is the horse walking? This is movement in the painting.

What else looks like it is “moving” in this painting?

What do you think the prince is thinking?

Is the prince wearing the kind of clothes you would wear to school? His clothes tells us he was not an ordinary boy.

What is he holding in his hand? A royal baton which is a symbol of his power.

What is in the background? Distant mountains, soft clouds in the sky. The prince stands out very clearly in the foreground against the light sky.

III. Information to share: nuggets of information about the print/artist.

Velasquez was ordered to paint this portrait by King Philip IV of Span.

Balthazar-Carlos was his oldest son. He was the official painter to the King. and eventually was Knighted by the King. (An honor title.)

Painted in 1635 (almost 400 years ago!) And was the first portrait of a child on horseback

The prince did not live long enough to become King of Spain – he died when he was 16 of malaria.

IV. Explanation of Art Project:

Supplies

Large White Paper Plate

White paper

Tacky glue

Scissors

Crayons, markers or colored pencils (optional)

Instructions

Print out the Horse pattern on white paper. One for each child

Kids can color the parts using the photo for reference before they cut them out. (I  pre-cut them to save time.)

Cut out the parts and glue to the paper plate using the photo for reference.

V. “I’m Done”: consider having a back-up activity/worksheet available for those who finish early

Coloring Page

VI. Wrap-up: elicit questions/comments from students, encourage students to share their experience and artwork with people at home. Share a snack (optional.)

Make pretzel and marshmallow batons like the one Prince Balthazar is holding in the painting.