plate no. 7672

A View of Rome with Castel Sant’Angelo, Ponte Sant’Angelo and St Peter’s Basilica in the Background

oil, boardRealismcityscapecityscaperiverbridgebuildingskyfigures

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering reflections in water. It also provides practice in capturing architectural details with loose brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, bridge, and river, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blue and white, blending softly.
step 03
Establish the basic colors of the buildings and bridge using a mix of browns, grays, and yellows.
step 04
Paint the water with horizontal strokes, reflecting the colors of the sky and buildings.
step 05
Add details to the buildings, bridge, and figures, using smaller brushes.
step 06
Create texture in the foreground with dry brush techniques.
step 07
Refine the reflections in the water, adding highlights and shadows.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cerulean blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · sap green

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, burnt sienna, and titanium white. Use cerulean blue and white for the sky, adding a touch of yellow ochre for warmth. Mix greens from sap green and yellow ochre.

techniques