Take One Picture

Take One Picture is the National Gallery’s nationwide scheme for primary schools. Each year, the gallery focuses on one painting from the collection to inspire cross-curricular work in primary classrooms.

Take One Picture Week allows us a week in school unlike any other. We have the opportunity to work together as pupils and staff to develop ideas as a team, sharing skills and research into the painting.

This year’s painting was ‘The Battle of San Romano’ by Paolo Uccello (1438-1440).

‘The Battle of San Romano’ is a set of three paintings by the Florentine painter Paolo Uccello depicting events that took place at the Battle of San Romano between Florentine and Sienese forces in 1432.

Mrs Cox, Miss Lambert and Miss Leslie spent a day at the National Portrait Gallery learning about the painting and various ways to deliver the project across the school.

The teachers across Lower School and Upper School worked incredibly hard to create a fun-filled week of engaging activities that brought the painting to life. This year, we have encouraged a pupil-led approach to the art projects created across the school. Introducing the painting to the whole school in advance of Take One Picture Week allowed for greater discussion and personal responses to the painting.

Each year group and subject area focused on a different aspect of the painting that appealed to them. Whether focusing on the horses, the physicality of battle or the missing pieces to this triptych, there were so many different responses to the painting that ensured an exciting and interesting week around the school.

Across the page are some of the highlights of the week that involved trips, workshops and lots of creativity.

Mrs Cox Head of Art

Art Scholars

Embroidery

This year, the Art Scholars felt embroidery was one of their strengths they wanted to share with younger pupils. Year Six taught Year Two girls a range of stitches including running stitch, back stitch and cross stitch. Year Three girls also created some beautiful embroidery samples which formed part of a horse blanket, inspired by the painting and a visit to The Household Cavalry.

Year Two

Design a Horse and Armour

Year Two visited the Household Cavalry! They got to see the exquisite outfits on the guards and even try them on. They also watched the Life Guards’ Inspection. The horses had shiny black coats and the girls were allowed to feed the horses and stroke them gently. Year Two couldn’t wait to design their own horse and soldier over the course of Take One Picture week.

Year Three

Renaissance Symbols

Year Three enjoyed learning about symbols portrayed in the painting and other renaissance art pieces. Taking inspiration from the fruits in the picture, Year Three looked at another renaissance artist, Giuseppe Arcimboldo, and created their own fruit and vegetable pictures. The girls worked in groups of 3 or 4 and tried to recreate a familiar face using the fruit and vegetables.

Year Five

Battle Scene Model

Year Five were interested in making a model of the battle scene. In Humanities lessons, they researched the regions of Italy and created their own flags for the regions. In Art, they made a 3D map of the country showing the regions from 1438. They created the battle scene in clay and sculpted specific details of interest such as horses, soldiers and scenery.