plate no. 3260

A break in Maremma with a farmer and a team of oxen

woodRealismgenre paintingoxencarthayfieldfiguressky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting atmospheric perspective and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. Students can also practice painting figures in a landscape setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the oxen, cart, and figures.
step 02
Block in the sky and distant landscape with thin washes of color.
step 03
Establish the base colors of the field, using a mix of browns, yellows, and greens.
step 04
Begin to build up the forms of the oxen and cart, paying attention to light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the hay bale, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Paint the figures, simplifying their forms and focusing on their overall shape and value.
step 07
Refine the details of the foreground vegetation, using a dry brush technique to create texture.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cerulean blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown and green for the field. Use white to lighten the blues and browns for the sky and oxen. Create a range of warm yellows and browns for the hay.

techniques