plate no. 5120

An Incident in the Napoleonic Wars

oilRomanticismhistory paintinglandscapefiguresbuildingsskyhillswar

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering complex forms with simplified brushstrokes. It also provides practice in depicting figures in a landscape setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the buildings, hills, and figures.
step 02
Establish the sky with broad, blended strokes, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the landscape, using darker values for the foreground and lighter values for the background.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, using a smaller brush to define the architectural features.
step 05
Paint the figures, paying attention to their proportions and poses.
step 06
Refine the details of the landscape, adding texture and variation to the foliage and ground.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Glaze with thin washes of color to unify the painting and enhance the atmosphere.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · Prussian blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black

Achieve the muted tones by mixing primary colors with white and small amounts of complementary colors. Use thin washes of color to create atmospheric effects.

techniques