Vasari called Ghirlandaio one of the greatest masters of his age — his tender Portrait of an Old Man and his Grandson still moves hearts across five centuries.
Teaching with Domenico Veneziano
Vasari’s gripping tale of artistic jealousy, a lute smashed and a murder committed — totally fictional, yet Domenico Veneziano’s ethereal Florentine masterpieces remain breathtakingly, undeniably real.
Teaching with Giotto di Bondone
From Dante Alighieri to Pablo Picasso, Giotto di Bondone emerges as a transformative genius—surpassing Cimabue and redefining painting through lifelike vision and enduring influence.
Daughters of Eleutherna
The “Daughters of Eleutherna,” as named by Nicholas Chr. Stampolidis, embody the Daedalic style’s striking frontality and stylization. Displayed at the Museum of Cycladic Art, they inspire inquiry-based learning through visual exploration and dialogue.
1st Day Back to School
Inspired by Malala Yousafzai, this lesson uses a kylix by Duris Painter to explore ancient Greek education, connecting past classrooms with today’s enduring value of learning.
Inspired by the François Vase
Inspired by the François Vase is a Grade 7 Activity my students enjoy doing!
François Vase is exhibited at the National Museum of Archaeology in Florence. It is “a large black-figure krater, a large vase in Ancient Greece believed to be used for watering down wine, from c. 570 BC. The design is fascinating and, if one looks carefully, you will find both the signature of the potter, Ergotimos and the painter, Kleitias. This krater is named the “François Vase” after the archaeologist who found it in 1844. ” https://www.visitflorence.com/florence-museums/maf-archeological-museum.html
The François Vase Activity
Instructions on what to do: During class, students are introduced to ancient Greek pottery, and more specifically the importance and characteristics of the François Vase. This Activity is based on the classroom lectures, student research on the subject, and ultimately student creativity and imagination. So, ……
- Students are asked to READ the attached sites and WATCH the provided Videos: https://www.florenceinferno.com/the-francois-vase/ and https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft1f59n77b&chunk.id=d0e2374&toc.depth=1&toc.id=&brand=ucpress and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh1oONbq2ik
- Students will be provided with a Template of a Volute Krater. This template will be their work canvas! to create a “new” version of the François Vase.
- For the Volute Krater Template, a big thank you to IMGBIN and go to https://imgbin.com/png/ZZBrSTGn/krater-volute-line-art-vase-drawing-png
- Students are asked to design a “new version” of the François Vase inspired by their favorite novel, poem, myth, comic story or their own life!
- They may consider the following poem by Archilochos of Paros, 8th century BC lyric poet (Willis Barnstone, trans., Greek Lyric Poetry [New York: Schocken Books) as a source of inspiration:
The PowerPoint, teachercurator has prepared, can be seen if you… Click HERE!
For more examples of student work… Click HERE!
Teaching with Vincent Van Gogh
The immersive exhibition Van Gogh Alive – The Experience transforms the work of Vincent van Gogh into a multi-sensory environment, allowing students to step inside his paintings through light, colour, sound, and movement.
Heracles and the Lion of Nemea
Mythological narratives such as Heracles and the Lion of Nemea engage students across grade levels, offering timeless lessons on resilience, responsibility, and human character through adaptable storytelling.
School Classrooms Since Antiquity
“School Classrooms Since Antiquity” uses a Gallo-Roman relief as a starting point to explore education across time, connecting ancient learning scenes with modern classrooms through art, inquiry, and student reflection.