plate no. 4641

Peterhof Palace. Lion cascade and colonnade

Alexandre Benois, 1900

graphite, watercolor, paperArt Nouveau (Modern)cityscapecolumnsarchitecturetreesstatueskylandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in watercolor layering and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering architectural details and organic forms like trees.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic structure of the colonnade, statue, and surrounding landscape.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted blue and gray for the sky, allowing it to dry.
step 03
Begin layering washes of green and yellow for the trees, varying the intensity for depth.
step 04
Paint the columns with a mix of gray and brown, creating shadows and highlights to define their form.
step 05
Add details to the statue, using darker tones to create form and shadow.
step 06
Refine the architectural details of the colonnade with a fine brush.
step 07
Add final touches to the foliage and ground, creating texture and interest.
step 08
Evaluate and adjust values and details as needed.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · raw umber · sap green

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix blues and grays for the sky and columns. Use varying proportions of green and yellow for the foliage. Create depth by diluting colors with water for distant elements.

techniques