Art Detectives: Portraits

People of early 19th century America told their life stories through painted portraits. Letters, books, technical advancements, pets and tokens provide clues in these vernacular paintings. Art Detectives unlocks the meaning of these clues, revealing much about the lives and values of the men, women and children of early America. After analyzing the portraits in the Fruitlands collection and discovering how to "read" the stories they tell, students in grades 1-4 will create either a silhouette or portrait of their own to take home.

Art Detectives Curriculum Connections
Art Detectives Teacher Packet
Back to School Programs