Ex. 1 Find synonyms to Russian words in the text

Read the text and do the exercises below

Gainsborough "Portrait of Duchess de Beaufort"

Thomas Gainsborough was an outstanding English painter of the 18th century, a favourite of the aristocracy. The artist's deep psychological approach enabled him to impart a poetic expression of individuality.

Gainsborough's "Portrait of Duchess de Beaufort" is an outstanding work of art. The artist depicts a graceful and attractive young woman. She has a pleasant oval face, straight eyebrows and black eyes, a straight nose and well-shaped delicate hands. You can see that she is an aristocrat.

Her rather pale complexion is contrasted by the dark colour of the background (the dark background was traditional in Gainsborough's time). The artist enlivens the face by a little colour on her cheeks.

Her greyish hair is combed very high and fastened with a comb and a blue ribbon, as was the fashion in those days. The dress is very low cut, also according to the fashion of the day.

The portrait is painted in cold colours (black, blue, grey, white). At first sight you may think that it is a traditional ceremonial portrait, but if you look attentively, you will see that her parted lips, fleeting glance, and graceful gesture of her hand help to create a true impression of the sitter's vitality and optimism. The woman in the picture is alive, and we have a feeling that she is looking at us.

Comprehension Exercises

Ex. 1 Find synonyms to Russian words in the text

традиционный парадный портрет- traditional ceremonial portrait

приоткрытые губы - parted lips

мимолетный взгляд -first sight

изящный жест - graceful gesture

живость и оптимизм модели - sitter's vitality and optimism

любимец аристократии - favourite of the aristocracy

передавать поэтическую экспрессию личности-

-impart a poetic expression of individuality.

приятное овальное лицо - a pleasant oval face

прямые брови- straight eyebrows

изящные правильной формы руки well-shaped delicate hands

довольно бледный цвет лица- rather pale complexion

контрастирует - contrasted

щеки - cheeks

ее сероватые волосы зачесаны очень высоко -

-her greyish hair is combed very high

скреплены гребнем - fastened with a comb

голубая лента – blue ribbon

согласно моде - as was the fashion in those days

платье с очень глубоким вырезом - the dress is very low cut

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