plate no. 2609

Finish of the 1827 St Leger. Matilda Beats Mameluke

oilRomanticismanimal paintinghorsesjockeysskycloudsgrassfence

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting animal anatomy and movement, as well as creating atmospheric perspective in the sky and landscape. Students will also learn to mix realistic colors for horses and clothing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the horses, jockeys, and basic landscape elements.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes, establishing the cloud formations and atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Establish the base tones for the grass and ground, creating a sense of depth.
step 04
Paint the horses, focusing on accurate anatomy and dynamic poses.
step 05
Add details to the jockeys' clothing and the horses' tack.
step 06
Refine the details of the fence and background elements.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
step 08
Apply final glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw sienna · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown for the horses by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, and black. Achieve the sky colors by mixing ultramarine blue, white, and a touch of yellow ochre. Use yellow ochre and raw sienna to create the grassy field.

techniques