plate no. 0610

Kerkegracht en Weeshuis in Leiden

oilRomanticismcityscapebuildingsstreetfigurestreesskyhorse

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice atmospheric perspective and rendering complex architectural details. It also provides experience in depicting figures in a crowd and creating a sense of depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and perspective.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the buildings, trees, and sky.
step 03
Establish the light and shadow patterns on the buildings and street.
step 04
Begin adding details to the architecture, such as windows, brickwork, and ornamentation.
step 05
Paint the figures in the foreground, paying attention to their proportions and clothing.
step 06
Develop the trees and foliage, using a variety of greens and browns.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Add final touches and glazes to unify the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · raw umber · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and using glazes of transparent colors. Create atmospheric perspective by adding white to colors as they recede into the distance.

techniques