plate no. 8096

Allegory of the destruction of the cathedral at Reims

Heorhiy Narbut, 1916

gouache, watercolor, paperArt Nouveau (Modern)allegorical paintingroostereaglefirecathedralcityscapeswords

experienced study

Recreating this painting would help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmospheric perspective, as well as rendering complex textures like smoke and fire.

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 main elements (rooster, eagle, cathedral).
step 02
Establish the background sky and the ethereal figure with light washes of color.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the burning cathedral and the surrounding cityscape using darker tones.
step 04
Begin layering colors to create the smoke and fire, using yellows, oranges, and reds.
step 05
Add details to the rooster and eagle, focusing on their feathers and the swords.
step 06
Refine the cityscape, adding details to the buildings and rubble.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Glaze to unify colors and create atmosphere.

color palette

primary · black · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · titanium white

Achieve the smoky grays by mixing black with white and a touch of burnt umber. Create the fire colors by layering yellows, oranges, and reds. Use ultramarine blue and white to create the ethereal figure.

techniques