plate no. 7775

Panorama of upper Bergamo

Romualdo Locatelli, 1929

oil, canvasExpressionismlandscapelandscapecityscapehilltreesbuildingssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and loose, expressive brushwork to capture a sense of place. It's also a good exercise in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line and the basic shapes of the hill, buildings, and trees.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light gray or off-white.
step 03
Establish the main value areas of the hill and foreground, using darker tones for shadows and lighter tones for highlights.
step 04
Add the basic shapes of the buildings on the hill, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 05
Paint the trees in the foreground with loose, gestural brushstrokes, varying the colors to create depth.
step 06
Refine the details of the buildings and trees, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
step 07
Add final touches, such as small details in the foreground and subtle variations in the sky.
step 08
Allow to dry and add a varnish.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · sap green

Mix various shades of green and brown by combining yellow ochre, raw umber, ultramarine blue, and white. Use white to lighten the colors for the sky and highlights.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive feel.
→Making the colors too saturated and not capturing the muted tones of the scene.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and distance.
→Not simplifying the complex shapes of the buildings and trees.