IELTS Speaking Topic card: A work of art / a picture/ a painting

December 9, 2017January 13, 2019

Today we are going to discuss about the speaking part of IELTS test. This post is based on part 2. Here we are going to show a model answer for a work of art . You may also find this topic card as favourite painting, picture or special painting.

Model answer:

Thank you for the topic card. I am feeling quite lucky to have this topic as I’ve recently visited Italy with my family and some of my close friends. I am going to talk about a world famous painting The Last Supper.

It is one of the most widely criticized and researched picture ever produced. This picture is a late 15th-century mural painting by Leonardo da Vinci housed by the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. It is one of the world’s most recognizable paintings.

I saw this painting for the first time in a book written by Dan Brown, one of my most favourite writers. The book also dealt with Leonardo da Vinci and it was called The Da Vinci Code. I was very young then. Later, I came to know about the enormity of this piece of art. In fact, one of my cousins in Milan took me to Santa Maria delle Grazie where I first have a look at this painting and the character. It is often said that the painting is actually mysterious linked to the bloodline of Jesus Christ.

I like the painting for a few specific reasons. This picture shows the last supper taken by Jesus Christ with his twelve disciples before his crucifixion. The most important reason for liking the painting is the setting of the characters portrayed in it. The historical value of this painting is also notable. Though no exact date of origin for this canvas is found, it is presumed that it has been painted in between 1495 and 1498.

I am always interested in the history of art and culture around the world. The first time I saw it in Dan Brown’s book, I was amazed to find out how special Leonardo da Vinci was in creating the characters of the apostles and Jesus Christ and how serious he was in his work. A true genius like Da Vinci can only create such an interesting and mysterious picture. The Last Supper has been the target of much speculation by writers and historical revisionists alike, usually centered on purported hidden messages or hints found within the painting, especially since the publication of the novel The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown in 2003. Now, I am a true fan of this painting.

Thank you.