plate no. 3602

Pont Saint Michel in Paris

Henri Matisse, 1900

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapecityscapebridgewaterbuildingsskywindow

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using expressive brushstrokes to capture light and atmosphere. It also encourages experimentation with color mixing to achieve nuanced tones.

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, bridge, and water, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of blue and white, creating a sense of depth.
step 03
Establish the main color masses for the buildings, using simplified shapes and colors.
step 04
Paint the bridge, focusing on the arches and reflections in the water.
step 05
Add details to the water, using short, broken strokes to suggest movement and reflections.
step 06
Refine the shapes and colors of the buildings, adding subtle variations in tone.
step 07
Add the window frame on the left side.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to create a sense of light and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · purple

Mix blues and whites for the sky, adding touches of yellow for warmth. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the buildings, mixing with white and red for variations. Create greens by mixing blue and yellow, and purples by mixing blue and red.

techniques