plate no. 3943
Rome, the Pantheon
Ippolito Caffi, 1843
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, atmospheric perspective, and rendering architectural details with light and shadow. It's also a good exercise in painting figures in a landscape.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the Pantheon, buildings, and fountain, paying attention to perspective.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and vanishing points.
- step 03
Block in the sky with light blue and white, blending softly.
- step 04
Lay in the base colors for the buildings, fountain, and ground, using a limited palette of earth tones.
- step 05
Add details to the Pantheon, including columns, dome, and architectural features.
- step 06
Paint the figures in the foreground, using small brushstrokes and varying colors.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Refine details and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cerulean blue
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red · ivory black
Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, and ivory black with white. Use cerulean blue and white for the sky, adding a touch of yellow ochre for warmth. Mix red and brown for the building colors.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·linear perspective
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect perspective
- →Overly bright colors
- →Lack of value contrast
- →Neglecting atmospheric perspective
- →Getting lost in details too early
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, cerulean blue, yellow ochre, cadmium red, ivory black)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
