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In this captivating painting, Albert Bierstadt presents us with a prominent peak in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Mount Corcoran. In the artist’s words, it (Mount Corcoran) is “the first to catch the morning sunlight (and) the last to say good night”. Bierstadt showcases the beauty and majesty of the natural world with the luminous landscape. The sunlight filters through the clouds and shines light on the tall brown trunks, the distant waterfall, and a lone bear approaching the clear waters. What did you first notice while looking at this painting? What does this painting make you feel? Tranquil? Peaceful? Upset? Excited? Please share your thoughts with us below

"Girl Reading" by George Cochran Lambdin is an embellished variant of the common 19th-century motif of a young woman at leisure by an open window. This tranquil painting captures a quiet, intimate moment of a young girl engrossed in the act of reading. In the painting we see the young girl reading in a relaxed and composed position, with her left hand arched and finger gently skimming the top of her book. At the time, women were not seen as intellectual equals to men, or even appropriate for intellectual activities. This painting challenges this premise and celebrates the power of intellectual curiosity, independent of one’s sex, by representing the girl’s imagination beyond her physical environment and institutional constraints—symbolised by the open window. What did you first notice while looking at this painting? What does this painting make you feel? What message, if any, do you think the artist tried to convey? Please share your thoughts with us below

This painting provides us with a snapshot into the journey of the Greek Titan Prometheus, the elemental hero who "stole" fire from the gods and gave the valuable gift to mankind. In the painting we see Prometheus leaving Olympus and descending into the darkness of night, carrying a flaming torch—representing the elemental gift. He is followed by the Greek Muses—goddesses who were the source of inspiration for the pursuit of knowledge and art—embodied by beautiful women. What did you first notice while looking at this painting? What does this painting make you feel? Can you think of any modern parallels? Please share your thoughts with us below

In this painting we see a funny and chaotic scene in which a geography teacher returns to class to find that his young students have taken over the lesson. There is a mess around the class and a young adventurer is riding the large globe as his classmates push and pull on it. This painting conveys a sense of curiosity, discovery, and the joy of learning. In the forefront of the painting, the young boys are engaged in swinging the globe as their classmates watch them with excitement. In the background we observe a reading boy, who is curious enough to lift his eyes and see how it all plays out. What did you first notice while looking at this painting? What does this painting make you feel? Who do you think instigated the “rebellion”? Please share your thoughts with us below

In the painting a philosopher is delivering a lecture on a mechanical model of the solar system—an orrery. We see a group of both men and women, children and adults, gathered round the device, some of them listening intently to the lecturer, whilst others are lost in fascination and awe with the orrery. They all seem to be engrossed in contemplation, and it looks as if the young children are holding back from playing with it. The dramatic lighting, with the central light source representing the sun, adds to the sense of wonder and discovery. It brings attention to the faces of the characters and further illuminates the vivid colours of their dress. What did you first notice while looking at this painting? What does this painting make you feel? Which historical period does this represent to you? Please share your thoughts with us below