plate no. 3070

Alexander at the Tomb of Cyrus the Great

oilNeoclassicismlandscapearchitecturefigureslandscapeskycloudstrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, figure painting within a landscape, and rendering architectural details with light and shadow. It also provides practice in creating a balanced composition with multiple focal points.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the architecture, figures, and landscape elements.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the perspective of the architectural structures.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and the distant landscape.
step 04
Develop the values of the buildings, creating a sense of depth and form.
step 05
Add details to the figures, paying attention to their poses and interactions.
step 06
Refine the details of the architecture, including the carvings and textures.
step 07
Glaze over the painting to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of realism.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · titanium white · cadmium red light · ivory black

Mix various shades of blue and white for the sky, adding touches of yellow ochre for warmth. Use burnt umber and yellow ochre for the buildings, adjusting the values with white and black. Mix red and umber for the figures' clothing.

techniques