plate no. 7083

Rio della Maddalena

Julius LeBlanc Stewart, 1908

oil, canvasRealismcityscapecanalbuildingswaterboatsfiguresarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting reflections in water and rendering architectural details with light and shadow. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere in a cityscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the buildings, canal, and boats.
step 02
Establish the main light source and map out the areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and water.
step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings, paying attention to the architectural elements and their shadows.
step 05
Paint the boats and figures, focusing on their shapes and placement within the scene.
step 06
Develop the reflections in the water, using broken brushstrokes and varying values.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow · ivory black

Achieve the warm tones of the buildings by mixing yellow ochre, raw umber, and burnt sienna. Create the cool tones of the water by mixing ultramarine blue and raw umber, and add white for highlights.

techniques