plate no. 3979

At the German Quarter

Alexandre Benois, 1911

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingfigurescarriagesskywindmill

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, composition, and capturing the atmosphere of a bustling historical scene. It also provides practice in rendering details with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the buildings and landscape.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for the sky, buildings, and ground.
step 03
Add details to the main building, including windows, columns, and roof.
step 04
Paint the figures and carriages, focusing on their general shapes and movement.
step 05
Develop the background elements like the windmill and distant buildings.
step 06
Refine the details and add highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 07
Use short, visible brushstrokes to build up texture and color variation.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · red-orange · blue · yellow ochre · white

secondary · green · brown · gray

Mix various shades of red-orange for the roofs, using yellow ochre and burnt sienna. Create atmospheric perspective by lightening and desaturating colors in the distance.

techniques