The Greek and Roman Cast Collection-
Plaster casts, many made from the original sculptures, were commissioned specifically for this museum. Be sure to see the infamous Elgin Marbles, originally part of the Parthenon in Greece.
A slide presentation is available upon request.
Activity provided by the Slater Museum:
Draw a contour outline of one of the Greek vases, and then select a statue you like and draw it in the center of your vase. Next select Greek patterns or designs to complete your artwork.
Tell or write a story of one of your favorite Greek gods, goddesses, or heroes. Create your own myth using one of the gods, goddesses or heroes.
Renaissance Art and Sculpture
Sculptures and works of art that are copies of famous Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo and Donatello can be found on the second floor of the museum. Be sure to see Michelangelo’s pieta (the original is located in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican). One cannot get as close to the original as he or she can to the museum’s exact copy!
A slide presentation on Renaissance art and a brief introduction on the influences that late Greek and Roman works had on Renaissance artists are available.
Activity provided by the Slater Museum:
Draw one of the Renaissance statues on display. Use patterns from the textiles displayed, and fill the background around your drawing with interesting and relevant designs of the time period.
The Vanderpoel Collection of Oriental Art
This collection, located on the second floor adjacent to the Renaissance collection, was primarily a donation from Mrs. John Vanderpoel in 1935. The collection includes a large number of artifacts and textiles from the Tokugawa period, including temple carvings, metalwork, intricate stencils and sculptures. The collection has grown over the years with artifacts such as a large collection of netsuke ivory carvings and Samurai Armor.
The Asian Collections serve as a catalyst for Asian art and history. The pieces can be infused with world history discussion of dynasties, ethical systems and religions such as Buddhism, Shinto and Jainism.
A slide presentation is available upon request.
Activity provided by the Museum:
Using patterns from Japanese prints and objects on display, create patterns on the drawing of the Japanese Robe.
African and Oceanic Art
This collection includes African Masks, sculptures and other artifacts from the Ivory Coast, Mali, Ghana, Zaire and Liberia as well as Oceanic artifacts including spirit boards. This art is embedded with specific beliefs and creeds.
A slide presentation is available upon request.
Activity provided by the Museum:
The following are names of some African communities whose works are represented in the collection: Baga, Bambara, Boba, Dan, Dogon, and Senufo. The Oceanic artifacts are from villages in New Guinea. Explore the collections and choose one work that you like. Look at the object for a long time. Then on a small piece of paper, write a list of words that express how you react to the piece. Then, on a separate piece of paper, make a drawing of the selected work and incorporate words from your list into the composition.
Write or tell a story of the purpose of one of the masks that you have selected from the display.
Pre-Columbian and Native American Art
This collection, while small, continues to interest students. Six Native American cultures are represented in this collection through artifacts such as rugs, baskets, utilitarian artifacts and arrowheads.
A slide presentation is available upon request.
Activities provided by the museum.
Select patterns from Native American objects on display and decorate the surface of the Zuni bowl. Then choose patterns from the Navaho rugs and create interesting designs in the background space.
Choose objects that have human representations and create a series of images that tell a visual story on the drawing of the buffalo robe.
Tell or write a story about the arrowhead maker or Pre-Columbian carver.
Scavenger Hunt: Look closely. List four objects that are made of stone, four of clay, four of root or grass, and four that are decorated with beads.
English & European Paintings and Decorative Arts
Spanning from the 15th to the 20th century, the museum’s collection includes paintings from Sir James A Shannon and furniture from throughout Europe.
Slide presentations are available upon request.
Activities provided by the Museum:
After a brief introduction to the area where paintings and artifacts are located, select a painting and write a poem or a story about one of the figures depicted in the composition. Then do a drawing of your chosen work.
Make a list of objects on display that would have been use in English or European households. Then make a list of objects that are used for similar purposes in your everyday world. Then make a list of objects that are used for similar purposes in your everyday world. On a separate sheet of paper draw two objects from the museum’s collections, i.e. a teapot or a candleholder. Then, using your imagination, draw images of what people use today.
American Paintings & Decorative Arts
Spanning the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, the museum has several permanent collections from American history. Most recently, the John Denison Crocker exhibit has been added to the permanent collection, displaying paintings from local towns created in the 19th century. The American collections include not only paintings, but also furniture from Colonial and Victorian eras, maritime objects like model ships, glassware, china, textiles, firearms and utilitarian artifacts.
Activities provided by the Museum:
Choose one of the portraits, landscape paintings or nautical items relating to Norwich, Connecticut, and write a short story or poem about what life was like at that time. On a separate piece of paper, do a drawing of your chosen work.
Scavenger hunt: find the items in the museum’s collection that pertain to the Early Colonial Era and the Revolutionary War.
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