Form 10 The World of Painting. Test work

Match the questions in the dialogue with their answers.

Put the verbs in brackets in the correct past tense form.

1) He ____          __ (leave) by that time already.

2) I __                  __ (just/arrive) when the telephone _      ___(ring).

3) She __           ___ (live) in Berlin for three years when the war__           __ (break out).

Thomas Gainsborough is known as an excellent women painter. «The Portrait of the Duchess de Befou», «Mrs Siddons», «Two Daughters» are among his best pictures.

His portraits are painted in clear tones in which blue and 1)_                  ______. One of his best pictures is «The Portrait of Duchess de Befou».

In the picture we can see a young noble woman; her charming face is fresh and lively. Her calm elegant pose shows us her 2)_          _____. It seems that in this portrait Gainsborough followed the rules of traditional ceremonial portraits. But it is not so. The pursed lips of the woman, a timid gesture of her hand create a true impression of the sitter.

The artist has a wonderful sense of colour, line and composition. He uses light and shade effectively. The picture is painted mostly in light tones on the dark background. Numerous shades of blue prevail in the picture. The combination of pink shades in her face and body are 3) _            _____with grey and blue shades on her hair, dress and scarf. It makes an impression of freshness and beauty. Gainsborough skillfully depicts the details of her dress. The woman is graceful and 4)__          ____. It is exhibited in the Hermitage in St Petersburg.

Thomas Gainsborough greatly influenced the English school of 5)_           ________ painting. He was one of the first English artists who painted their native land. His delicate understanding of nature is especially felt in the pictures where he 6) _        __ peasants. The best landscapes of his are: «Watering Place» and «Harvest Waggon». Both of them are exhibited in the National Gallery.

Among his other landscapes are: «The Sunset», «The Market Card» and «The Cottage Door». His great love for the 7)_             ____ and his ability to show it made him an 8)_           ___ in this field. He was the first English artist who painted his native countryside so sincerely.