Reading Time

1) Take on the persona of a tour guide, who is introducing Isidro Escamilla’s painting of the Virgin of Guadalupe to a group of visitors. Assume that your audience has no background knowledge about the legend of the Virgin of Guadalupe. If you are unfamiliar with the story or need a refresher, check out this short fact sheet from the National Museum of Mexican Art in ChicagoLinks to an external site. that summarizes the major details.
2) Spend some time looking at Escamilla’s painting. Identify which parts of the image incorporate continuous narrative and which do not. For those elements of the painting that do use continuous narrative, figure out how the sequence of events has been arranged. If there are any elements that you are unsure of, that is ok! Note any parts of the image that were unclear, so that you can discuss them in your writing.
3) In your guise as a tour guide, compose a two-hundred word (1-page, double-spaced) explanation for your hypothetical visitors viewing Escamilla’s painting of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Be specific about what parts of the painting you feel are important for the visitors to notice. Your explanation must include:
l. A description of the continuous narrative used in this work of art.
ll. A rational for why the sequence is viewed in the way that you interpret.

You are also welcome to discuss other visual elements you feel are significant to the painting, including parts that stood out to you or that you did not understand. You do not need to do any outside research for this assignment. Instead, practice describing what you see!

Remember: your explanation of Escamilla’s painting is aimed at an audience unfamiliar with what they are looking at, so be clear and detailed in your writing.

Please note: Your interpretation of the order of the continuous narrative elements can be incorrect and you can still receive full points for this assignment if your explanations are detailed, thoughtful, and logical.

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