plate no. 3870

King George V, Accompanied by Queen Mary, at the Opening of the Modern Foreign and Sargent Galleries at the Tate Gallery, 26 June 1926

John Lavery, 1926

oilImpressionismhistory paintinginteriorgallerycrowdarchitecturepaintingsfigures

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting complex scenes with many figures and creating atmospheric perspective through color and value variations. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of a scene with loose, expressive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the room, including the walls, ceiling, and floor, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the crowd, focusing on the overall mass rather than individual details.
step 04
Begin to add color to the walls and ceiling, mixing variations of red, yellow, and brown to create depth and warmth.
step 05
Develop the figures in the crowd, using small, quick brushstrokes to suggest their forms and clothing.
step 06
Add details to the paintings on the walls, using a smaller brush to create the illusion of frames and images.
step 07
Refine the lighting and shadows, adding highlights to the ceiling and walls to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details, such as the chairs in the foreground and the figures in the center of the composition.

color palette

primary · red ochre · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · ivory black

Achieve the warm red tones by mixing red ochre with burnt umber and a touch of yellow ochre. Use ultramarine blue and white to create cooler tones for shadows and details.

techniques

·broken color
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling
·alla prima
·gestural brushwork

common pitfalls

→Getting bogged down in details too early in the process.
→Creating a flat, lifeless image by not varying the colors and values.
→Losing the overall sense of atmosphere and light.
→Failing to establish a clear focal point.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (red ochre, burnt umber, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, titanium white, ivory black)
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette knife