Pre-Columbian Art
The animal sculptures in front of you were made in Ancient Latin
America. They made images of animals in many ways: sculptures in clay,
stone and wood; on clothing; and jewelry of jade, gold, and silver. They
chose the animals that were important to them to use in their art. These
animals have symbolic meanings. The jaguars are fierce and powerful,
like their powerful rulers were. They had dogs as pets like we do, so
they included them in their art. They thought dogs guided the souls of
people who had died. They placed these dog sculptures in the tombs of
people who had died. Camels were used for transportation. Llamas
provided them with wool for clothes. Some of the animal sculptures they
made did not look real, they combined different parts of animals to make
an imaginary animal. We can only guess the meaning of these imaginary
animals.
Click on the images above to expand
Look at the pictures on your table to answer the following questions:
1. Some of the animal figures were made as containers. What do you
think they might have used these for?
2. Choose one of the pictures. Draw it below.
3. Do you think it is realistic (like how the animal looks in real
life?) If there is anything not realistic about it, describe what
doesn't look real.
4. Write four adjectives about this animal figure. (Adjectives are
describing words.)
5. Why might these animal sculptures be put in a museum?
Animal Figure Planning
This sheet is to help you get ideas for your animal
sculpture.
1. If you wanted to make a sculpture of an animal that
was strong, powerful and brave,
name three animals you could make. ______________, ______________,
______________
2. If you wanted to make a sculpture of an animal that
was gentle and calm, name three animals
you could make. _______________, ______________, _____________
3. What animal are YOU most like? (Are you graceful
like a swan, are you fast like a cheetah?)
__________________
4. If you wanted to show an animal as a companion,
friend and pet, what are three animals you could make?
____________, ____________, ___________
5. Name three parts of different animals you can put
together to make a new, imaginary animal.
(Ex: the body of a cow, the head of a fish, the wings of a penguin).
______________________, _______________________,
______________________.
6. In the space below, DRAW the animal figure
you want to make. You can combine a few animals or just choose one. You
can make a container with animal features or a simple sculpture of an
animal. Why did you choose this animal? (EX: it is an animal like me, it
is animal I have as a pet, I want to show a gentle animal, etc.)
Pre-Columbian Links
