Stories of Art – Question Bank (ICSE Class 8)
Section A: One-word / Very Short Answer Questions
Q. Who painted the Mona Lisa?
A. Leonardo da Vinci
Q. What was Mona Lisa also called?
A. La Gioconda
Q. Who painted The Blue Boy?
A. Thomas Gainsborough
Q. Name the boy in The Blue Boy.
A. Master Buttall
Q. Which French painter painted despite suffering from rheumatism?
A. Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Section B: Short Answer Questions
Q. Why did Leonardo keep the Mona Lisa instead of giving it away?
A. He was deeply attached to it and unwilling to part with it.
Q. What makes Mona Lisa’s smile mysterious?
A. It seems to change expression depending on the light and angle.
Q. How did Gainsborough prove the Academy wrong through The Blue Boy?
A. He showed that blue could dominate a painting and still look beautiful.
Q. How did Renoir continue painting despite his illness?
A. He tied the brush to his crippled hand and directed assistants.
Q. What lesson about art do we learn from Renoir’s work?
A. An artist first imagines with the mind before using the hands.
Section C: Long Answer Questions
Q. Describe the uniqueness of The Blue Boy.
A. The painting shows Master Buttall in shimmering blue silk with natural charm. Gainsborough
proved that blue could dominate a painting. The boy’s intelligence and simplicity made it appealing.
Q. Explain why Leonardo da Vinci is regarded as a genius.
A. Leonardo was a painter, scientist, engineer, and sculptor. His Mona Lisa shows mastery of
lifelike portraiture and mysterious effects. He combined art with imagination and science, making
him a true polymath.
Q. ‘Art is not just in the hand but in the artist’s mind.’ Explain with Renoir’s example.
A. Renoir imagined the rounded line from Coco’s forehead to brush before painting. Despite
rheumatism, he continued to create by planning in his mind first. This shows that imagination is the
real power behind art.
Section D: Reference to Context Questions
From the Mona Lisa (Leonardo da Vinci)
“Her smile is indeed mysterious: it seems to change.”
- Her refers to Mona Lisa, the subject of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting.
- Her smile changes expression depending on the light.
- This adds mystery and makes the painting famous.
“When we look at the landscape behind this life-like figure we are stunned to see how unreal
it looks.”
- This refers to the Mona Lisa.
- Mountains, rivers, a road, and a bridge appear in the background.
- They look dream-like, adding to the painting’s mystery.
“That is why a wealthy merchant, Giocondo, commissioned him to paint a portrait of his
beautiful young wife.”
- ‘Him’ refers to Leonardo da Vinci.
- The wife was Mona Lisa, also called La Gioconda.
- Leonardo did not give it away because he was too attached to it.
From The Blue Boy (Thomas Gainsborough)
“The public, enraptured by the dominating charm of the picture, called it The Blue Boy.”
- The painting is The Blue Boy.
- Gainsborough painted it to prove blue could dominate a painting.
- The public admired it greatly, making it a hit at the exhibition.
“Looking at this painting we are at once struck with the beauty of the shimmering blue silk.”
- This refers to Gainsborough’s The Blue Boy.
- The boy’s dress was in blue silk with white lace and stockings.
- It showed that blue could be the central colour in a painting.
“It is exactly this natural simplicity that we find so appealing.”
- The boy, Master Buttall, is being described.
- This is about Gainsborough’s The Blue Boy.
- His natural charm and intelligence made the painting appealing.
From Renoir’s Life and Work
“Unlike most working professionals, those who are artists never truly retire.”
- This refers to Renoir.
- He painted and sculpted even in old age despite illness.
- He had rheumatism and had to tie the brush to his hand.
“Renoir gave a soft pearly pink effect to the picture we see here, showing his little son
painting at an easel.”
- Renoir’s son, Claude, nicknamed Coco, is shown.
- It shows Coco painting like a grown-up.
- It proves that art begins in the mind before being put on canvas.
“The artist works first with his mind and then with his hands.”
- This was said by Renoir.
- His painting of Coco proves it, as he planned in his mind first.
- Yes, imagination guides the hand in art creation.
“In them we can easily recognise the style of Renoir’s latest years. No other artist could
have conceived the rhythm of those richly curving lines.”
- ‘Them’ refers to Renoir’s sculptures.
- Because of rheumatism, he directed others while they sculpted.
- The curving lines and lifelike flesh made his style unique.
Section E: Vocabulary & Word Meaning
polymath – a person with knowledge in many fields
enigmatic – mysterious, puzzling
enraptured – filled with great delight
rheumatism – disease causing stiffness and pain in joints
subtly – delicately, not obvious
commissioned – ordered officially
radiates – spreads or emits
dominate – to control or stand out
masterpiece – a work of outstanding artistry
conceived – thought of, imagined
