The Kimbell Art Museum has introduced brand-new Family Gallery Guides, which are now available at the Museum’s Information Desk. Created as discussion tools for the Museum’s permanent collection and architecture, these thought-provoking guides invite children and adults to investigate the Museum’s building and the artworks inside it together. The Guides are free, but must be returned to the Information Desk after use.

The new Family Gallery Guides are sets of individual laminated cards with full-color photos of artworks and architecture, accompanied by fun and interesting information. Each card talks about an artwork in the permanent collection, and encourages families to walk around the galleries, find the artworks, and learn all about them. Included are works ranging in period from antiquity to the 20th century, including European masterpieces, and important works of Egyptian, Asian, and African arts. The Guides will vary depending on which permanent collection artworks are on view at a given time.




Here is an example of the card for The Cheat with the Ace of Clubs, by Georges de La Tour (late 1620s):

Something besides a simple card game is happening in this picture by Georges de La Tour (jorj / duh / la / tour). What is going on here? What is about to happen?

Each character plays a different part in this story. What is each person doing? Can you guess who is cheating and who is being cheated? There’s a big clue on the left side of the picture. What is the man dressed in brown about to do? Who else is involved in this trickery?

Did you notice the woman in the center with the large oval face? Follow her eyes. Where is the other woman looking? The only person actually looking at the cards in the young man on the right. Does he notice what’s going on around him? What is about to happen to his pile of gold-and-silver coins?

How else does the artist tell his tale? Take a moment to notice the rich colors and beautiful details of the costumes. Which colors catch your eye? How many different patterns do you see? Which outfit seems especially colorful and fancy? Look for gold stitching on the young man’s collar and the huge ostrich feather in his cap.

Which person is shown in the shadows? What does that tell you about him? Instead of looking at his cards, this sneaky fellow turns to look at us! What do you think he is about to say? What are the other card players thinking? What would you do if you were sitting at this table?