plate no. 7850

Pope Pius VI Blessing the People on Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo

oil, canvasBaroquehistory paintingbuildingsfigurescityscapeskyarchitecturecrowd

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering complex architectural details with loose brushwork. It also provides practice in suggesting a large crowd of people with minimal detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the major buildings and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the basic values of the sky, using a thin wash of diluted paint.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the buildings with simplified forms and colors.
step 04
Start adding details to the architecture, focusing on the main building on the right.
step 05
Suggest the crowd with small, indistinct brushstrokes, varying the values slightly.
step 06
Refine the details of the main building and the statue, adding highlights and shadows.
step 07
Adjust the atmospheric perspective by making distant elements lighter and less detailed.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth colors with white and small amounts of blue. Use thin washes for the sky and build up layers for the buildings.

techniques