plate no. 9180

I did but see her passing by, And yet I love her till I die

Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale, 1920

oilRomanticismillustrationfiguresarchitecturestreet scenebuildingscobblestonebrickwork

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures in period clothing and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in depicting textures like brick and cobblestone.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main composition, focusing on the placement of figures and buildings.
step 02
Establish the basic color blocks for the sky, buildings, and ground using thin washes.
step 03
Begin building up the details of the figures, paying attention to the folds and shadows in their clothing.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, including the timber framing and roof tiles.
step 05
Render the cobblestone street, varying the colors and values of the stones to create a sense of texture.
step 06
Add the brickwork in the foreground, paying attention to the perspective and the texture of the bricks.
step 07
Refine the details of the figures' faces and hands.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · purple · yellow ochre · payne's gray · cadmium red light

Mix muted tones by combining complementary colors. Achieve the aged brick color by mixing burnt sienna, raw umber, and a touch of black and red. Use white to create lighter values and atmospheric haze.

techniques