plate no. 9544

Corso Sant'Anastasia, Verona, with the Palace of Prince Maffei

watercolor, paperRomanticismcityscapebuildingsstreetfiguresprocessionskyarchitecture

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective drawing, particularly atmospheric perspective, and learn to simplify complex architectural details. It also provides practice in rendering figures in a crowd and capturing the effects of light on buildings.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, street, and figures, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the sky color with a thin wash of blue, fading towards the horizon.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the buildings, using a warm palette of yellows, ochres, and browns.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, balconies, and architectural ornaments, simplifying where necessary.
step 05
Paint the figures in the procession, focusing on their general shapes and colors rather than precise details.
step 06
Add shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 07
Introduce the banners and details on the balconies.
step 08
Refine the details and add finishing touches, such as the birds in the sky.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · raw umber · ivory black

Mix various shades of yellow ochre with burnt sienna and white for the buildings. Create atmospheric perspective by adding more blue to the colors as they recede into the distance. Use red and white for the banners.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·linear perspective
·dry brushing
·layering
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Getting bogged down in excessive detail, especially in the architectural elements.
→Failing to establish a strong sense of perspective.
→Overworking the colors and losing the freshness of the watercolor.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the buildings and sky.