plate no. 0373

Notre-Dame de Paris

oilRealismcityscapebuildingsriverbridgeskyfigurescityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing reflections in water. It also provides practice in simplifying complex architectural forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, bridge, and riverbank, focusing on proportions and perspective.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall composition.
step 03
Block in the main color masses: sky, water, buildings, and ground.
step 04
Develop the sky with subtle gradations of color to create depth.
step 05
Add reflections in the water, paying attention to their distortion and color.
step 06
Refine the details of the buildings and bridge, simplifying the architectural elements.
step 07
Add figures and other small details to create a sense of scale and activity.
step 08
Adjust values and colors to create a cohesive and atmospheric effect.

color palette

primary · gray · blue-gray · brown · cream

secondary · red-brown · dark green · light blue

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., blue and orange, green and red) with white. Use thin washes of color to build up layers and create depth.

techniques