plate no. 2030

Canal in Venice with View of the Back of the Palazzo Rocca

Antonietta Brandeis, 1926

oilRealismcityscapecanalbuildingswaterarchitecturefiguresky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering architectural details and capturing the reflections in water. It also provides practice in creating depth and atmosphere through color and value variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and perspective lines of the buildings and canal.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the vanishing points.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, water, and buildings using thin washes.
step 04
Gradually build up the details of the buildings, focusing on the light and shadow patterns.
step 05
Add the reflections in the water, paying attention to the distortion and color variations.
step 06
Paint the figure in the boat, keeping it simple and proportional.
step 07
Add the details of the foliage and architectural ornamentation.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and add any final touches.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · viridian green · cadmium red · raw umber

Mix various shades of ochre and sienna with white to achieve the building colors. Use ultramarine and white for the sky, and add a touch of sienna for the water. Mix greens with yellow ochre and ultramarine.

techniques