plate no. 2104

English War. The Spear (triptych, right panel)

oilRomanticismhistory paintingfiguressoldiersarchersbattleflagmonk

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, depicting dynamic poses, and creating atmospheric perspective with muted colors. It also provides practice in rendering textures and suggesting details with loose brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main figures and their relative positions.
step 02
Establish the background with thin washes of green and grey, suggesting the distant landscape and sky.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures with darker tones of brown and red, focusing on the monk and the archer.
step 04
Gradually build up the details of the figures, paying attention to the folds of the clothing and the anatomy.
step 05
Add highlights to the figures to create a sense of depth and form.
step 06
Paint the archers in the background, simplifying their forms and using cooler tones to create distance.
step 07
Add the flag and the arrows, paying attention to their direction and perspective.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a cohesive and atmospheric composition.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · sap green · payne's gray

Achieve the muted tones by mixing browns, greens, and grays with white. Use small amounts of red for the archer's clothing. Create atmospheric perspective by adding more gray to the background colors.

techniques

·figure drawing
·atmospheric perspective
·chiaroscuro
·dry brushing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall atmospheric effect.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, resulting in a flat image.
→Incorrectly depicting the anatomy of the figures.
→Not simplifying the background elements enough, creating a cluttered composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, cadmium red, sap green, payne's gray)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife