plate no. 2285

House over the Bridge

Diego Rivera, 1909

oil, canvasSocial Realismcityscapebuildingswaterbridgecityscapecanalreflection

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering reflections and creating atmospheric perspective with a limited color palette. It also provides practice in capturing architectural details with loose brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, bridge, and canal, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the overall warm tone of the painting with a thin wash of burnt umber and yellow ochre.
step 03
Block in the major color areas of the buildings, using variations of yellow, orange, and brown.
step 04
Paint the dark water of the canal, using a mix of burnt umber and black, and create the reflections of the buildings.
step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural features, using a small brush.
step 06
Create the foliage on the right side of the painting with dark greens and browns, using broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to achieve the desired atmospheric effect.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · black

secondary · cadmium yellow · burnt sienna · raw umber

Achieve the warm, muted tones by mixing yellow ochre with burnt umber and small amounts of black. Use burnt sienna to add warmth to the building details.

techniques