plate no. 7547

Notre-Dame in the Rain

Albert Marquet, 1910

oilFauvismcityscapecathedralarchitectureskyfiguresgothicbuilding

some experience helpful

Students will develop skills in architectural perspective and proportion while learning to simplify complex Gothic details into essential forms and practice color temperature relationships between warm stone and cool sky.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light pencil sketch establishing the cathedral's basic geometric forms and proportions
step 02
Block in the large masses using thin paint - distinguish the cathedral from sky with basic color temperature
step 03
Establish the major architectural divisions and the relationship between different building sections
step 04
Add the main shadows and form modeling using slightly thicker paint
step 05
Develop the Gothic architectural details selectively, focusing on the most important elements
step 06
Paint the small figures at ground level to establish scale
step 07
Refine the color relationships between the warm stone tones and cool sky
step 08
Add final touches to rooflines and architectural accents

color palette

primary · raw umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · cadmium yellow ochre · alizarin crimson · cerulean blue

Mix warm grays for the stone using raw umber, white, and touches of burnt sienna. Create cool sky tones with ultramarine blue, white, and hints of cerulean blue.

techniques