plate no. 1436

Landscape with the Fall of Icarus

oil, canvasNorthern Renaissancemythological paintinglandscapeseafiguresshiptreesmountains

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, layering, and rendering complex scenes with multiple focal points. It also provides practice in depicting figures and objects at various scales.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and major landforms.
step 02
Establish the sky and sea with broad washes of color, paying attention to the subtle gradations.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the landscape: the foreground fields, the midground trees, and the distant mountains.
step 04
Add details to the figures and animals in the foreground, using small brushes.
step 05
Paint the ship, carefully rendering its rigging and sails.
step 06
Develop the details of the distant city and mountains, using lighter tones to create atmospheric perspective.
step 07
Add final details, such as the birds in the sky and the subtle highlights on the water.
step 08
Glaze to unify the painting and add depth to the colors.

color palette

primary · viridian green · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Achieve the muted greens by mixing viridian green with yellow ochre and a touch of burnt umber. Create atmospheric perspective by lightening colors with white and adding a touch of blue as objects recede into the distance.

techniques