plate no. 3180

Landscape with Mercury and Argus

oilBaroquemythological paintinglandscapefiguresanimalsmountainsskytrees

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, color mixing for natural light, and rendering complex landscapes with varied textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the major shapes: mountains, river, trees, and figures.
step 02
Establish the sky with broad washes of blue and grey, focusing on creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 03
Block in the distant mountains and hills with muted colors, paying attention to value differences to create depth.
step 04
Paint the mid-ground, including the river and bridge, using cooler colors and softer edges to suggest distance.
step 05
Focus on the foreground elements: trees, figures, and animals, adding more detail and contrast.
step 06
Develop the textures of the rocks and foliage using varied brushstrokes and color variations.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the overall composition as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · titanium white · ivory black · cadmium red light · sap green

Achieve the atmospheric perspective by mixing blues with white and a touch of raw umber for the distant elements. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna mixed with white for the sunlit areas. Mix greens from ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt umber.

techniques