plate no. 3885

A Horse in Marseille

Albert Marquet, 1916

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapecityscapewaterfiguresbuildingshorseboat

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students learn to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and practice color mixing to achieve a harmonious, muted palette. It also provides an opportunity to practice creating depth using atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the horizon line and major elements.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and water, then the distant buildings and foreground.
step 03
Establish the basic values, paying attention to the light and shadow patterns on the buildings and ground.
step 04
Add details to the figures and boats, simplifying their forms and using a limited palette.
step 05
Refine the colors and values, blending where necessary to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Pay attention to the edges of shapes, softening some and sharpening others to create visual interest.
step 08
Add final details and adjustments as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix blues and browns with white to create the muted tones of the sky and water. Use yellow ochre and a touch of red to create the warm tones of the buildings and ground. Add small amounts of red to the blues to create the purplish tones in the distant hills.

techniques