©CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD, 2021 via BBC NEWS
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- replica /REP-li-kuh/
- auction /AWK-shuhn/
- follower /FOL-oh-er/
- canvas /KAN-vuhs/
- culprit /KUHL-prit/
[noun] – an exact copy of an object
My grandfather likes to collect replicas of ancient weapons.
[noun] – a usually public sale of goods or property, where people make higher and higher bids (= offers of money) for each thing, until the thing is sold to the person who will pay most
The merchants are holding an auction of their best wares.
[noun] – someone who supports, admires, or believes in a particular person, group, or idea
Shuji’s family is a devoted follower of their religion.
[noun] – the cloth artists paint on, or such a painting itself
We went back to the museum to admire the canvases.
[noun] – someone who has committed a crime or done something wrong
The police finally caught the culprit behind the theft.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa painting replica is to be sold with an expected price of €300,000 or $365,645 at Christie’s auction house in Paris, France. “This work and its history illustrate the fascination that the Mona Lisa and the aura of Leonardo da Vinci have always held,” Christie’s said in a press conference. The Mona Lisa replica, known as Mona Lisa Hekking, was painted in the 17th century. It was named after its ex-owner and one of da Vinci’s followers Raymond Hekking. He acquired the canvas in the 1950s from an art dealer in Nice, Italy.
The original Mona Lisa is considered to be the world’s most famous painting. It is believed to have been painted in the 16th century by da Vinci. The masterpiece’s theft from the Louvre Museum in Paris gained international recognition. It was recovered in 1913 when the culprit Vincenzo Peruggia—who was an employee of the museum itself—attempted to sell the painting to an antiques dealer in Florence, Italy.
The original Mona Lisa is considered to be the world’s most famous painting. It is believed to have been painted in the 16th century by da Vinci. The masterpiece’s theft from the Louvre Museum in Paris gained international recognition. It was recovered in 1913 when the culprit Vincenzo Peruggia—who was an employee of the museum itself—attempted to sell the painting to an antiques dealer in Florence, Italy.
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What are your thoughts on the assumed auction price?
- What is the worth of a replica in comparison to the original?
- Should there be reproductions of paintings or other works of art? Please explain your answer.
- What role does art play in history, culture, and our daily lives?
- What factors do you consider to call something “artistic”?
Summarization
Please summarize the whole article using your own words and expressions. You will have one minute to prepare before you answer.
Describe:
Please explain the definition of each word listed below based on your understanding. You can provide example sentences if needed.
- expected
- fascination
- aura
- recognition
- antiques dealer