On March 14, 2024, Gymnázium Myjava, organised the second of the four COIL online lessons of the Erasmus+ international project, entitled Great Paintings in Detail: The Ambassadors, led by Mgr. Ľubica Durcová.

The participants were students of Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovakia; Gymnázium Myjava, Slovakia; and Universitatea Crestina Partium, Romania.

 Once again, the aim of the COIL lessons was to raise awareness of students of how additional knowledge about a painting can enrich personal experience and see a painting from a different perspective.

The COIL lesson was merging knowledge of Art, Culture, History, Aesthetics and even History of Science.

Students could practice debating skills in groups by sharing their ideas and opinions about the painting, and then presenting them to the whole class.

In the analyses of the painting the Ambassadors by Hans Holben the Younger, students discussed the terms and their meaning such as: a Northern Renaissance, anamorphosis, and numerous symbols and reference points used in the painting.

They found connection between historical figures and events such as: Henry VIII, the religious conflict of the 16^th century, a humanist Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam, scientific discoveries, and also about the ambassadors Jean de Dinteville and Georges de Selve who are depicted at the painting with the powerful realism.

After the analyses students got opportunity to talk, discuss and express their opinion - weather any information was new, surprising, familiar or expected for them.

The students were very active in the groups and very keen to present their ideas and some admitted not being familiar with the painting before.