plate no. 1097

Still-Life with a Peacock and a Dog

oilBaroquestill lifepeacockdoggamelandscapeurnstill life

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering textures like feathers and fur, as well as understanding complex compositions and creating depth through atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition and placement of major elements.
step 02
Block in the background landscape with thin washes of color, focusing on establishing the atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Establish the darks and lights of the urn and the peacock, paying attention to the form and volume.
step 04
Start building up the details of the peacock's feathers, using layering and glazing techniques.
step 05
Paint the dog, focusing on capturing the texture of its fur and its expression.
step 06
Add the dead game, paying attention to the details of the fur and feathers.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Add final glazes to unify the painting and create depth.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with small amounts of blues and reds. Use glazes of burnt umber and raw sienna to create depth and shadows.

techniques