plate no. 6115

Episode of the September Days 1830 (on the Grand Place of Brussels)

oilRomanticismhistory paintingfiguresbuildingflaghorsecrowdcityscape

advanced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting complex scenes with many figures, understanding atmospheric perspective, and rendering realistic skin tones and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 40 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a rough sketch to establish the overall composition and placement of key elements.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Start with the background, gradually building up layers of detail and atmospheric perspective.
step 04
Focus on the figures in the foreground, paying attention to anatomy, proportions, and expressions.
step 05
Develop the color palette, mixing subtle variations of skin tones and clothing.
step 06
Add details such as weapons, flags, and architectural elements.
step 07
Refine the lighting and shadows to create depth and drama.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Create atmospheric perspective by adding blue to background colors.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·atmospheric perspective
·figure drawing

common pitfalls

→getting lost in the details too early
→inaccurate proportions of figures
→muddy colors
→lack of contrast

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 24x36
·oil paints (burnt umber, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, raw sienna)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette

optional