Comparatives and Leonardo

Comparatives are exactly what you think they are - words used to compare (show similarities) and contrast (show differences) between two or more things.

There are three simple rules to change an adjective (a word used to describe a person, place, or thing) into a comparative.  These rules depend on the last letter of the adjective and how long it is (how many syllables it has).

Rule 1:

   - if the adjective has only 1 syllable: add -er to the end
          examples:   old - older; fast - faster
       
       Spelling note: if the adjective ends in consonant - vowel -            consonant: double the last letter
               examples:  fat - fatter fater; big - bigger biger

Rule 2:

   - if the adjective has 2 syllables and ends in a y: change the y to i and add -er
          examples:  happy - happier

Rule 3:

  - for all other cases (adjectives with 3 or more syllables and adjectives with 2 syllables not ending in y): 
     use the word "more" before the adjective
          examples: important - more important importanter; modern - more modern moderner

Leonardo da Vinci and the two copies of The Virgin of the Rocks

Comparatives are very helpful to describe works of art.  It can be very useful (and fun) to compare works of art with the same subjects or even by the same artist.    Today, we will make a very interesting comparison: we will compare two works of art by the same artist and with the same subject!

The two paintings above are both called The Virgin of the Rocks.  They were both painted by Leonardo da Vinci.  It is very probable, however, that one painting was done by Leonardo's assistants.  The painting on the left is in the Louvre, in Paris, and the painting on the right is in the National Gallery, in London.

Can you guess which one was most likely painted by Leonardo and which was probably painted by his assistants?  Why do you think so?

There are some different interpretations about why Leonardo and his assistants painted two identical paintings.  Let's focus, however, on comparing these two works of art because they are not, in fact, identical.

First, let's identify the figures (people) in the paintings. 
      - Mary is the woman in the center.
      - Jesus is the baby on the left side of the painting (but on the right side of Mary)
      - An angel is on the right of the painting
      - St. John the Baptist is the baby sitting next to the angel on the right side of the painting

Similarities: 
    There are many similarities.  For example:
               - Both paintings have the same setting (location) of a cave. 
               - The same people are in both paintings.
               - Mary has the same hand gesture (position of her hands).

      Can you find any other similarities?

Differences:
    What differences do you see?  For example:
            - In the painting on the left, the angel is pointing (indicating with a finger).  She is not pointing in the
             painting on the right.
    
    Can you find any other differences?

Comparatives:
Use the following adjectives (and any other adjectives you can think of) to make sentences comparing these two paintings.  You can refer to the painting on the left as "the Louvre version" and the painting on the right as "the London version."

For example:  St. John the Baptist looks bigger in the London version.

          soft            beautiful        big        bright      dark     clear     natural

What did this comparison show you about these two works of art?  Do you have a better idea now of which one is the "original" - which one was painted by Leonardo (and not by his assistants)?