plate no. 2417

Quai de Montebello, Notre Dame

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsfiguresstreettreeswater

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing atmospheric perspective and rendering reflections in wet surfaces. It also provides practice in simplifying complex architectural details.

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 Notre Dame and the street scene.
step 02
Establish the overall warm color tone of the sky and reflected light on the ground.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the buildings and figures with simplified forms.
step 04
Add details to Notre Dame, using loose brushstrokes to suggest architectural elements.
step 05
Develop the reflections on the wet street, paying attention to color and value variations.
step 06
Paint the figures, focusing on their silhouettes and gestures.
step 07
Add details to the trees and other elements in the foreground.
step 08
Refine the painting with highlights and shadows, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red · titanium white · viridian

Achieve the warm, muted tones by mixing yellow ochre and burnt umber. Use ultramarine blue to create cooler shadows and to mix with yellow ochre for greens. Add white to lighten values and create highlights.

techniques