plate no. 1488

Mercato Vecchio in Florence

oilRealismgenre paintingcityscapemarketfiguresbuildingsskystreet

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting complex scenes with many figures and architectural details, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective and color mixing to create depth.

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 to establish the basic composition and perspective lines of the buildings and street.
step 02
Block in the main shapes of the buildings and sky using diluted washes of color.
step 03
Establish the dark and light areas to create a sense of depth and form.
step 04
Start adding details to the buildings, such as windows, doors, and textures.
step 05
Begin painting the figures in the market, focusing on their general shapes and positions.
step 06
Refine the details of the figures, adding clothing, faces, and gestures.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create a sense of volume and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to unify the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · cerulean blue · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

Mix raw umber and yellow ochre with white to create the various tones of the buildings. Use cerulean blue and white for the sky, and mix burnt sienna and cadmium red light for the figures' clothing and details.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·broken color
·scumbling
·alla prima
·figure drawing

common pitfalls

→Getting lost in the details too early, before establishing the overall composition.
→Using colors that are too saturated, which can flatten the image.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Making the figures look stiff or unnatural.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (raw umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, cerulean blue, burnt sienna, cadmium red light)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags