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home·artworks·Ruins of the House of Septimius Severus on the Palatine
Ruins of the House of Septimius Severus on the Palatine by Cesare Biseo

plate no. 9326

Ruins of the House of Septimius Severus on the Palatine

Cesare Biseo, 1900

etchingOrientalismlandscaperuinsarchitecturevegetationarchesstatuelandscape
experienced study

Recreating this etching will help students develop skills in creating depth through value and line variation, as well as rendering intricate details using hatching and cross-hatching techniques. It will also improve understanding of composition in complex scenes.

technical profile

palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
2

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Begin with a light sketch outlining the main architectural structures and the statue.

  2. step 02

    Establish the darkest areas of the image using dense hatching and cross-hatching.

  3. step 03

    Gradually build up the mid-tones by adding layers of finer lines.

  4. step 04

    Use lighter, more spaced-out lines to represent the highlights and areas of light.

  5. step 05

    Pay close attention to the direction and density of the lines to create a sense of form and texture.

  6. step 06

    Focus on capturing the details of the vegetation and the weathered surfaces of the ruins.

  7. step 07

    Refine the overall composition by adjusting the contrast and adding subtle variations in line weight.

  8. step 08

    Add final details to the statue and architectural elements.

color palette

primary · black · white

secondary · gray

Varying the pressure and density of the etching lines will create different shades of gray.

techniques

  • ·hatching
  • ·cross-hatching
  • ·stippling
  • ·value gradation
  • ·line weight variation

common pitfalls

  • →overworking the image
  • →creating uniform lines
  • →losing the overall composition
  • →ignoring the direction of light

materials

surface · etching paper

required

  • ·etching needle
  • ·etching plate
  • ·etching ink
  • ·etching press
  • ·paper
  • ·tarlatan
  • ·tracing paper

optional

  • ·magnifying glass
  • ·burnisher
  • ·scraper

Use a high-quality etching paper that can withstand the pressure of the press. Experiment with different types of etching ink to achieve the desired tonal range.

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