plate no. 0034

Pisa. View of the baptistery and the cathedral

oil, canvasRealismcityscapecityscapearchitecturefigurestreesmountainssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering to create depth. It also provides practice in rendering architectural details and figures within a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the buildings, mountains, and figures.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the vanishing point to guide perspective.
step 03
Block in the sky with a light blue wash, blending it towards the horizon.
step 04
Paint the distant mountains with muted greens and browns, using lighter values for areas further away.
step 05
Add the architectural structures, starting with the larger shapes and gradually adding details.
step 06
Paint the trees and foliage, varying the greens and yellows to create depth and texture.
step 07
Add the figures and animals, paying attention to their proportions and placement within the scene.
step 08
Refine details and highlights, adjusting values and colors as needed to create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · titanium white · cadmium yellow · raw sienna

Mix various shades of green by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and burnt umber. Achieve atmospheric perspective by adding white to colors for distant elements.

techniques