plate no. 8887
Prayer service at the farm in Ukraine
Vladimir Makovsky, 1886
recreation guide
Vladimir Makovsky’s 'Prayer service at the farm in Ukraine' (1886) is a quintessential example of Russian Realist genre painting, a movement in which Makovsky held a leading position as a founding member of the Association of Travelling Art Exhibitions (Source 3). The work depicts ordinary people engaged in common activities—specifically a religious ritual within a domestic or agrarian setting—aligning with the definition of genre art as portraying figures to whom no specific historical identity is attached, but rather representing aspects of everyday life (Source 2). Makovsky’s practice during the 1880s was characterized by a shift toward more socially conscious and sometimes gloomy themes, moving away from the humorous small-town folk scenes of the 1870s (Source 3). As a realist painter, the work likely employs a 'reality effect' to depict daily life, though it may also carry moral or social undertones typical of the period’s genre painting (Source 5).
estimated time
40-60 hours over 8-12 sessions
materials
6 items
steps
6 in sequence
materials
| item | purpose | modern equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Oil paints (artist grade) | Primary medium for the painting | — |
| Linseed oil | Medium to thin paint and increase oil content in upper layers | Stand oil or refined linseed oil |
| Mineral spirits or turpentine | Solvent for thinning initial layers and cleaning brushes | Odorless mineral spirits (OMS) |
| Canvas | Support for the oil paint | Linen or cotton canvas, primed |
| Charcoal or thinned paint | For initial sketching of the composition | Vine charcoal or raw umber thinned with solvent |
| Paintbrushes and palette knives | Application and manipulation of paint | — |
preparation
surface prep
The canvas should be primed with a traditional ground suitable for oil painting. While specific details of Makovsky’s ground preparation are not explicitly detailed in the sources, traditional oil painting techniques of the period involved preparing a stable surface to ensure the longevity of the paint film (Source 4). The ground should be smooth enough to allow for the realistic depiction of figures and textures characteristic of the Realist style.
underdrawing
Traditional oil painting techniques often begin with the artist sketching the subject onto the canvas with charcoal or thinned paint (Source 4). Given Makovsky’s academic training at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture (Source 3), a precise underdrawing is likely to establish the composition and figures before applying paint. The drawing should capture the poses of the figures engaged in prayer and the layout of the farm interior.
underpainting
An underpainting (imprimatura) may be applied to establish tonal values. This step is consistent with traditional oil painting practices where the artist builds up layers to achieve depth and realism. The underpainting should be lean (less oil) to adhere properly to the ground and allow subsequent layers to dry correctly (Source 4).
color palette
Earth tones (Umbers, Siennas)
Raw umber, burnt sienna, ochre
General use in this artist's palette for realistic depiction of interiors and clothing
Whites and Off-whites
Lead white or titanium white mixed with earth tones
Highlights on clothing, skin tones, and architectural elements
Deep Blues and Greens
Ultramarine, phthalo blue, viridian
Clothing details and background elements, consistent with realistic genre painting
Warm Flesh Tones
White, yellow ochre, red ochre, burnt sienna
Depicting the figures of the peasants
composition
The composition likely features ordinary people engaged in a common activity, distinguishing it from history painting or portraiture (Source 2). Makovsky’s genre paintings often depicted scenes of everyday life with a focus on social consciousness or moral themes (Source 3). The arrangement of figures should reflect the 'reality effect' typical of genre painting, where the scene appears as a snapshot of quotidian life (Source 5). Specific compositional details such as the exact placement of figures or objects are not described in the sources, so the artist should rely on general principles of Realist genre painting to arrange the scene coherently.
step by step
underdrawing→underpainting→first pass→refining→finishing→varnishing
underdrawing
step 01
Sketch the composition on the canvas using charcoal or thinned paint, focusing on the poses of the figures and the layout of the interior.
Tip — Ensure the proportions and gestures are accurate to convey the realism characteristic of Makovsky’s work.
Traditional underdrawing
underpainting
step 02
Apply a thin layer of paint (lean) to establish the basic tonal values and color scheme of the scene.
Tip — Use a solvent-thinned mixture to ensure the layer dries quickly and adheres to the ground.
Imprimatura
first pass
step 03
Begin building up the forms with broader brushstrokes, focusing on the large masses of color and light.
Tip — Avoid getting into fine details too early; maintain the integrity of the large shapes.
Blocking in
refining
step 04
Add layers of paint with increasing oil content (fat over lean) to refine the details of the figures, clothing, and interior elements.
Tip — Ensure each layer contains more oil than the previous one to prevent cracking and peeling.
Layering
finishing
step 05
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the realism and depth of the scene. Use palette knives or rags to adjust texture and form if necessary.
Tip — Oil paint remains wet longer than other materials, allowing for adjustments to color and texture.
Glazing and scumbling
varnishing
step 06
Once the painting is completely dry (usually within two weeks for some colors, longer for others), apply a varnish to protect the surface and unify the sheen.
Tip — Ensure the painting is fully dry to avoid trapping solvents beneath the varnish.
Varnishing
critical techniques
Fat over Lean
Each additional layer of paint should contain more oil than the layer below to allow proper drying and prevent cracking. This is a basic rule of oil paint application.
Realistic Depiction
Makovsky’s work is defined by realism, depicting ordinary people and everyday life with attention to detail and social context. The artist should aim for a 'reality effect' rather than idealized forms.
Genre Painting Composition
The scene should portray ordinary people engaged in common activities, without specific historical identities, to align with the genre painting tradition.
common pitfalls
- →Applying layers with less oil than the previous layer, which can lead to cracking and peeling of the paint film (Source 4).
- →Over-modeling or being too tied down to the outline, which can result in a stiff and unnatural appearance. Makovsky’s realism requires a balance between detail and naturalism (Source 1).
- →Ignoring the social or moral context of the scene, which is a key aspect of Makovsky’s genre paintings from the 1880s (Source 3).
- →Using non-artist grade materials, which can compromise the stability and longevity of the painting (Source 4).
what the sources don't tell us
Where the corpus is silent, we say so rather than guess. These are the gaps a complete recreation guide would normally cover that our source passages don't.
- ·Specific visual details of the painting, such as the exact clothing patterns, facial expressions, or room layout, are not described in the sources and must be inferred from general knowledge of Makovsky’s style or other reproductions of the work.
- ·The specific pigments used by Makovsky in this particular painting are not documented in the sources, so the palette is based on general practices of the period and the artist’s known style.
- ·The exact dimensions and aspect ratio of the original painting are not provided, which may affect the compositional planning.
grounded in
The technical procedure in this guide traces to the following classical art-instruction texts.
The Practice of Oil Painting↗
- ON COPYING — applied to Technique of layering and avoiding over-modeling
cross-referenced from
Named facts about this artwork and artist were checked against these reference pages.
Wikipedia: Genre painting↗
- Genre painting — part 1 — applied to Definition and characteristics of genre painting
Wikipedia bio — Vladimir Makovsky↗
- Biography — applied to Artist’s style, period context, and social themes
Wikipedia: Oil painting↗
- Oil painting — part 2 — applied to Technical rules of oil painting, including fat over lean and drying times
Wikipedia: Dutch Golden Age painting↗
- Dutch Golden Age painting — part 11 — applied to Concept of 'reality effect' in genre painting
Read more about the corpus on the sources page and how the guides are built on the methods page.
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