plate no. 7473

Roman Ruins with Shepherds

canvas, oilBaroquelandscaperuinslandscapefiguresanimalsarchessky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering complex textures of stone and foliage. It also provides practice in depicting figures and animals within a landscape setting.

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 arches and the placement of the figures and animals.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and the distant landscape.
step 03
Establish the values of the ruins, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Add details to the figures and animals, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 05
Develop the foliage, using a variety of greens and browns to create depth.
step 06
Refine the details of the ruins, adding cracks and other imperfections.
step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to unify the painting and create atmospheric perspective.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · raw sienna · titanium white · ivory black

Achieve the warm tones of the ruins by mixing yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of white. Create atmospheric perspective by adding blue to distant colors.

techniques