plate no. 4611
Cleopatra Disembarking at Tarsus
Claude Lorrain, 1642
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering complex architectural forms with light and shadow. It also provides practice in painting figures in a landscape setting.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the composition and perspective.
- step 02
Block in the large shapes of the sky, water, and land with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Establish the basic forms of the ships and architecture, paying attention to their perspective.
- step 04
Add details to the ships, including rigging and sails.
- step 05
Develop the architecture with more precise lines and shading.
- step 06
Paint the figures, focusing on their poses and drapery.
- step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Add final glazes to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · viridian green
Mix muted greens by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and a touch of burnt umber. Create atmospheric haze by adding white to your base colors.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·linear perspective
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Getting the perspective of the architecture wrong.
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
- →Making the colors too bright and saturated.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the painting.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·oil paints
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·#10 filbert brush
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·retouch varnish
- ·painting medium
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to help establish the overall color harmony.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
related artworks
Landscape with Shepherds - The Pont Molle
Claude Lorrain
Presentation of Christ in the Temple
Simon Vouet
Landscape with the Funeral of Phocion
Nicolas Poussin
Confirmation
Nicolas Poussin
The Baptism of Christ
Jacques Stella
Landscape with Diogenes
Nicolas Poussin
Landscape with Water Mill
Claude Lorrain
The pilgrims of Emmaus
Jacques Stella