American painter Thomas Sully (1783–1872) had a lifelong love affair with the theatre. Born into a family of actors, he…
Thomas Sully: Thirty-Second Look
Have students look at the portrait for thirty seconds. Then have them turn away from the image. Conduct a conversation…
Thomas Sully: Strike a Pose
Have students pose like the sitter in the portrait. Ask students to consider what it feels like to pose like…
Thomas Sully: Character Reference
Traditional Portraits Some of Thomas Sully’s earliest recorded portraits are his now-lost images of members of the Park Theatre in…
Thomas Sully: Interviewer-Interviewee
Traditional Portraits Some of Thomas Sully’s earliest recorded portraits are his now-lost images of members of the Park Theatre in…
Thomas Sully: Plot It
Theatrical Portraits The majority of Sully’s portrait clients were merchants, ministers, bankers, doctors, military figures, and naturally, socialites—with a few…
Thomas Sully: Jumping into a Portrait
The Fancy or Subject Portraits Thomas Sully kept meticulously detailed records that provide an in-depth understanding of the life of…
Thomas Sully: Getting to Know You
The Fancy or Subject Portraits Thomas Sully kept meticulously detailed records that provide an in-depth understanding of the life of…
Thomas Sully: Compare and Contrast
Make connections to contemporary works within the Museum’s Collection. Visit Gallery 20, where you will find works identified as New…
Thomas Sully: Historical Connections
Study the relationships between the human forms in the Sully exhibition and the natural worlds in the landscapes from the…
Thomas Sully: Backdrop Design
Collect reproductions of your favorite band or team, and then cut out the individuals and arrange them so that they…
Thomas Sully: Backdrop Building
Create your own architectural setting for George Frederick Cooke in the Role of Richard III (1811–12). Have students research similar…