plate no. 2548

Notre-Dame in Winter

Albert Marquet, 1902

oilPost-ImpressionismcityscapecityscapesnowbuildingriverwinterNotre-Dame

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes and using a limited palette to create atmosphere. It also provides practice in capturing light and shadow on snow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, river, and foreground elements.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of diluted paint.
step 03
Block in the main color masses for the sky, buildings, and water.
step 04
Refine the shapes of the buildings and add details like windows and architectural features.
step 05
Add highlights to the snow-covered areas to create a sense of depth and form.
step 06
Use short, broken brushstrokes to create texture in the foreground and water.
step 07
Adjust the colors and values as needed to create a harmonious and atmospheric effect.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · purple · white · brown

secondary · green · grey · red

Mix various shades of purple by combining red, blue, and white. Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors.

techniques

·Impasto
·Dry brushing
·Color mixing
·Layering
·Scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic effect.
→Using colors that are too saturated and not capturing the muted tones of the scene.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure and creating a flat, uninteresting painting.
→Not simplifying the complex shapes of the buildings and getting bogged down in unnecessary details.