plate no. 4074
Latin American Presidental Inauguration, Brazil, 1891
Eliseu Visconti, 1925
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in painting figures in a crowd, creating atmospheric perspective, and understanding color temperature to create depth. Students will also learn to simplify complex scenes into manageable shapes and values.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition and perspective of the room and the table.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes of the figures, focusing on their general placement and proportions.
- step 03
Establish the background architecture with loose, gestural brushstrokes, paying attention to the light and shadow patterns.
- step 04
Mix and apply the base colors for the table, figures, and background, working from dark to light.
- step 05
Develop the details of the figures, focusing on their faces and clothing, using smaller brushes.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension, paying attention to the light source.
- step 07
Paint the angel figure with soft, blended brushstrokes, using light and airy colors.
- step 08
Refine the details and add finishing touches, such as highlights on the table and figures.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors. Use white to lighten values and create highlights. Mix small amounts of blue with browns to create cooler shadows.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·figure painting
- ·gestural brushstrokes
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Getting lost in the details too early
- →Overworking the painting
- →Incorrect proportions of figures
- →Ignoring the overall light and shadow patterns
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 18x24
- ·Oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, ivory black, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre)
- ·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Rags
optional
- ·Retouch varnish
- ·Easel
- ·Medium (e.g., Liquin)
Use a medium-tooth canvas for better texture. Consider using a toned canvas (e.g., with a wash of burnt umber) to establish a base tone.
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