Exploring the Text

1. The painting depicts a meeting that took place in Philadelphia. Notice the use of light colors on the left and dark pigments on the right. How might the shading be symbolic?

   Question

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   Exploring the Text: - The painting depicts a meeting that took place in Philadelphia. Notice the use of light colors on the left and dark pigments on the right. How might the shading be symbolic?
2. How are the Quaker colonists depicted? How are the Indians depicted? What attitudes do these depictions suggest?

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   Exploring the Text: - How are the Quaker colonists depicted? How are the Indians depicted? What attitudes do these depictions suggest?
3. How do the two figures at the far left differ from the Quakers? Who might they be? What might they represent?

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   Exploring the Text: - How do the two figures at the far left differ from the Quakers? Who might they be? What might they represent?
4. Benjamin West was a close friend of King George III, who would often visit him in his studio to discuss art and contemporary affairs. Does that information affect or alter your response to the painting? Why or why not?

   Question

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   Exploring the Text: - Benjamin West was a close friend of King George III, who would often visit him in his studio to discuss art and contemporary affairs. Does that information affect or alter your response to the painting? Why or why not?
5. What is the painter’s attitude toward William Penn? This painting was comissioned by Thomas Penn, the son of the central figure. How might that commission have influenced the depiction of Penn? Be specific in your answer.

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   Exploring the Text: - What is the painter’s attitude toward William Penn? This painting was comissioned by Thomas Penn, the son of the central figure. How might that commission have influenced the depiction of Penn? Be specific in your answer.
6. What is the mood of the painting? How does it make you feel while looking at it?

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   Exploring the Text: - What is the mood of the painting? How does it make you feel while looking at it?
7. Traditionally, paintings of historical events tended to be idealized, heroic, and allegorical rather than historically accurate. In his time, West was criticized for going against that tradition. However, modern historians and art historians have pointed out that West’s paintings are not strictly historically accurate. Historian and art critic Simon Schama writes, “West rejected literalism and embraced rhetoric.” How might this view apply to William Penn’s Treaty with the Indians? How realistic does the event depicted in this painting look to you? Explain the relationships between fiction and history and between realism and symbolism in the painting.

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Exploring the Text: - Traditionally, paintings of historical events tended to be idealized, heroic, and allegorical rather than historically accurate. In his time, West was criticized for going against that tradition. However, modern historians and art historians have pointed out that West’s paintings are not strictly historically accurate. Historian and art critic Simon Schama writes, “West rejected literalism and embraced rhetoric.” How might this view apply to William Penn’s Treaty with the Indians? How realistic does the event depicted in this painting look to you? Explain the relationships between fiction and history and between realism and symbolism in the painting.