plate no. 0502

Napoléon and Marie Louise Attending the Parade of the Squadron in Cherbourg, in 1811

oilRomanticismmarinashipsfiguresflagskywatercoastline

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering complex scenes with many figures. It also provides practice in capturing the texture of water and the details of sailing ships.

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 horizon line, major shapes of the ships, and the coastline.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and grays, focusing on soft transitions between colors.
step 03
Establish the basic shapes of the ships, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 04
Add the darker tones of the water, blending them to create a sense of depth.
step 05
Roughly sketch in the figures on the coastline, focusing on their general shapes and positions.
step 06
Begin adding details to the ships, such as sails, rigging, and flags.
step 07
Refine the figures on the coastline, adding details to their clothing and faces.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · payne's gray

Mix blues and whites for the sky and water. Use burnt umber and white for the earth tones of the coastline. Mix reds, yellows, and blues to create the various colors of the figures' clothing.

techniques