STAGE 1
Dates can be learnt more easily if they are linked to a visual image such as major memory system outlined here. By assigning numbers a consonant you can create words and therefore images.
- 0 = s or z
- 1 = d or t
- 2 = n
- 3 = m
- 4 = r
- 5 = l
- 6 = g,j, ch soft sounds
- 7= g, k hard sounds
- 8 = f or v
- 9 = b or p
Vowels aren’t assigned a number they act as blanks.
So the word bat = 91, the word name = 23. It is a phonetic system so how things sound is how a number is assigned. The word cough for example is the number 78.
So how do you memorize dates? Example 1255.
The 1 can be assumed so the task is to memorize 255.
2 is and N , 5 is an L . So Duccio’s birth year 1255 can be memorized by a simple sentence using the first letter of each word.
Nearly Life Like.
STAGE 2
Each of the 100 greatest painters is hung on a key word representing the numbers 1 -100. By learning 100 words based on this system you have effectively 100 hooks to hang information on. This makes learning the hundred most important artists in Western history possible
So number 1 is day, number 2 is noah, number 3 is ma, etc. Learn the first ten numbers first then work at the dates for each painter. You will soon get the hang of it.
- day = 1
- Noah = 2
- Ma = 3
- Ra = 4
- Law = 5
- Jaw = 6
- Key = 7
- Fee = 8
- Bee = 9
- Daze = 10
1 DAY
DUCCIO
Nearly life like
Multi dimensional View
1255
1318

2 NOAH
GIOTTO
Now Giotto Gives
Mary Magdalene Grief
1277
1337

3 MA
MARTINI
Announcing Fab Result
Martinis are Ready
1284
1344

4 RA
VAN EYCK
Marriage of Oils
Arnolfini’s Real Touch
1385
1441

5 LAW
ANGELICO
Mary Followed Gabriel’s
Rather Long Look
1387
1455

6 JAW
UCCELLO
Magnificent Battle Clashing
Rival’s Colour Landscape
1397
1475

7 KEY
Roger van WEYDEN
My! Put Those
Rich Sheets away Roger
1391
1464

8 FEE
MASSACCIO
Really Sad Adam
Wretched Naughty Eve
1401
1428

9 BEE
PIERO
Renaissance Dove Softly
Regards Piero’s Inspiration
1410
1492

10 DAZE
BELLINI
Rigid Madonna Sits
Through Light Thundery Showers
1436
1516

Here are some links to great talks from the National gallery on some of the artists above.