Visual Art Lesson—Studying Paintings of the Battle at Fort McHenry

In preparation for the 200th anniversary of The Star-Spangled Banner, students will learn about the Battle at Fort McHenry by studying paintings portraying this event.  Students will also study the painting By the Dawn’s Early Light painted for the 100th anniversary of the Battle at Fort McHenry.
Lesson:
1. Study three paintings of the Battle at Fort McHenry, learning about the artist’s and different painting techniques used.
2. Discuss that By the Dawn’s Early Light was painted for the 100th anniversary of the Battle at Fort McHenry and is therefor from the artist’s point of view and not a completely factual demonstration of the battle. Use the myths site to show what was inaccurate historically in the painting.
4. Use the listening of/and or singing of Patriotic songs such as The Star-Spangled Banner, Yankee Doodle, America, and The Grand Old Flag as another way to link the music lesson to the art lesson.
5. Students can recreate the actual paintings themselves imitating the artists style or create their own original art work telling the story of the writing of The Star-Spangled Banner or the Battle at Fort McHenry.
Bombardment of Fort McHenry-Alfred Jacob Miller 1828-1830
A View of the Bombardment of Ft. McHenry-John Bower 1816
By the Dawn’s Early Light-Edward Percy Moran 1912
Myths behind Edward Percy Moran’s paintings
Resources: Spotify-Patriotic music instrumental and vocal
Yankee Doodle, You’re a Grand Old Flag, America, The Star-Spangled Banner
National Visual Arts Standards:
2. Using knowledge of structures and function
3. Choose and evaluate a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas
4. Understanding visual arts in relation to history and culture
6. Make connections of visual arts and other arts standards