plate no. 1506

City View

oil, panelBaroquecityscapecityscapearchitecturefiguresarchstreetsky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering architectural details with loose, expressive brushstrokes. Students will also learn to create a sense of depth and light using a limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the archway and perspective lines of the buildings.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the sky, buildings, and foreground shadows.
step 03
Establish the darkest darks and lightest lights to create a sense of depth.
step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings, using thin washes of color to suggest texture and form.
step 05
Paint the figures in the foreground, paying attention to their placement and interaction with the light.
step 06
Refine the details of the archway, adding subtle variations in color and texture.
step 07
Add the hanging lantern, using a light touch to suggest its delicate form.
step 08
Glaze the entire painting with a thin layer of medium to unify the colors and add a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Achieve the atmospheric perspective by mixing blues and whites for the distant sky and buildings, gradually adding warmer tones like yellow ochre and raw umber for the foreground elements. Use burnt sienna for the figures and shadows.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the original.
→Failing to create a strong sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Using colors that are too saturated and bright.
→Incorrect perspective

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·raw umber oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·ultramarine blue oil paint
·yellow ochre oil paint
·burnt sienna oil paint
·linseed oil
·assorted round and flat brushes

optional

·palette knife
·turpentine
·retouch varnish

Use a canvas with a smooth texture to allow for subtle blending and glazing. Consider using a toned canvas (e.g., raw umber wash) to establish a warm undertone.

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