plate no. 2428

Erecting a Calvary

oil, canvasRealismgenre paintingfiguresprocessionchurchvillageskylandscape

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in painting figures in a crowd and creating atmospheric perspective to convey depth. It also provides practice in rendering textures of clothing and architectural details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the church and the procession.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall perspective of the scene.
step 03
Block in the main shapes and values of the figures, using a limited palette.
step 04
Develop the background elements, such as the buildings and trees, using muted colors.
step 05
Refine the details of the figures, paying attention to their clothing and facial features.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Work on the textures of the church walls and the ground.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with white and small amounts of blue or red. Use raw umber and ivory black to create a range of grays.

techniques