plate no. 6432

Napoleon at the gates of Babylon

Iurie Matei, 2007

oil, canvasMagic Realismportraitportraitfiguresunbubblesancient reliefmilitary uniform

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones, as well as practice creating realistic textures and atmospheric effects.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the placement and proportions of the figure, sun, relief, and bubbles.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the background, the face, the uniform, the sun, and the relief.
step 03
Begin refining the portrait, focusing on accurate skin tones and subtle value changes.
step 04
Add details to the uniform, including the gold trim and the beetle.
step 05
Paint the sun and the nebula, blending colors smoothly to create a soft, glowing effect.
step 06
Create the bubbles, using highlights and shadows to give them a three-dimensional appearance.
step 07
Add details to the ancient relief, paying attention to the texture and the play of light and shadow.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and visually appealing painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · titanium white · ivory black · viridian

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Create the nebula by layering blues, greens, and yellows, blending them softly.

techniques