plate no. 6510

Paestum, The Temples

oilRomanticismcityscapearchitecturetempleslandscapeskyfiguresanimals

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in linear perspective, atmospheric perspective, and rendering architectural details. It also offers practice in depicting figures and animals within a landscape setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the temples and landscape.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and vanishing points.
step 03
Block in the sky with a light blue wash, blending towards the horizon.
step 04
Add the basic shapes of the temples, paying attention to proportions and perspective.
step 05
Paint the distant mountains with a muted blue-gray tone.
step 06
Add details to the temples, such as columns and architectural features.
step 07
Paint the foreground landscape, including rocks, figures, and animals.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · light blue · ochre · raw umber

secondary · burnt sienna · gray · white

Mix light blues with white for the sky and distant mountains. Use ochre and raw umber for the temples and landscape, adding burnt sienna for warmer tones. Mix grays by combining black, white, and a touch of blue or brown.

techniques