VII. Select a reproduction of a portrait painting and discuss it according to the following outline:

1. The general effect. (The title and. name of the artist. The period or trend represented. Does it appear natural and spontaneous or contrived and artificial?)

2. The contents of the picture. (Place, time and setting. The age and physical appearance of the sitter. The accessories, the dress and environment. Any attempt to render the personality and emotions of the model. What does the artist accentuate in his subject?)

3. The composition and colouring. (How is the sitter represented? Against what background? Any prevailing format? Is the posture bold or rigid? Do the hands (head, body) look natural and informal? How do the eyes gaze? Does the painter concentrate on the analysis of details? What tints predominate in the colour scheme? Do the colours blend imperceptibly? Are the brushstrokes left visible?)

4. Interpretation and evaluation. (Does it exemplify a high degree of artistic skill? What feelings, moods or ideas does it evoke in the viewer?)

14. Read the following dialogues. The expressions in bold type show the ways english people express likes and dislikes. Note them down. Be ready to act out the dialogues in class:

— Isn't that lovely?

— What a dull picture! Why, there's no colour in it.

— That a dull picture! Why, it's beautiful, it's perfect, if it had

any more colour it would be wrong.

— But I don't think so. Each to our own opinion, dear Simon.

— …Forgive me, darling. To lose my temper because you didn't like that picture, how childish!

— Yes, you were funny; I have never seen you like that before, quite a baby, Simon. If I really thought you liked that thing, Simon, I'd begin to wonder at your taste.

— But I did like it. I haven't seen a picture for years I have liked so much.

***

They paused before the prizewinner.

— I think that one's got something. For once I believe that I'd agree with the judges.

— I hate it like hell.

— What don't you like about it?

— Everything. To me it's just phoney. No pilot in his senses would be flying as low as that with thermo-nuclear bombs going off all around.

— It's got good composition and good colouring.

— Oh, sure. But the subject's phoney.

VII. Discussing and evaluating things often involves stating your preference. Here are some ways of expressing likes and dislikes. Notice that you need to be very polite when criticizing things in English — even speaking to someone you know quite well.

Expressing likes

I like ... very much indeed.

I (really) enjoy...

I've always liked/loved ...

There's nothing I like/enjoy more than ...

I'm (really) very fond of ...

... is (really) terrific/great, etc.

It's too lovely for words.

Expressing dislikes

(I'm afraid) I don't like ...

I've never liked ..., I'm afraid.

... is not one of my favourite ...

I (really) hate...

I think ... is pretty awful/really unpleasant.

I'm not (really) very⁷ keen on ...

... is ghastly/rubbish.

I can't say ... appeals to me very much.

I must say I'm not too fond of...