plate no. 3804

Street view from Milan, in the background the Duomo

oil, canvasRealismcityscapecityscapebuildingsfountainfiguresskyarchitecture

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, atmospheric perspective, and rendering complex architectural details. It also provides practice in depicting figures in a crowd and capturing the effects of light and shadow on various surfaces.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition and perspective, paying close attention to the vanishing points.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and forms of the buildings, fountain, and figures using simplified geometric shapes.
step 03
Establish the basic color palette and value range by applying thin washes of color to the canvas.
step 04
Gradually build up the details of the buildings, adding windows, architectural features, and subtle variations in color and texture.
step 05
Refine the fountain, paying attention to the play of light and shadow on the water and sculpted figures.
step 06
Add the figures, starting with the larger shapes and gradually adding details and individual characteristics.
step 07
Create atmospheric perspective by softening the edges and reducing the contrast of distant objects.
step 08
Add final details, such as highlights, shadows, and reflections, to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, ultramarine blue, and titanium white. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to create warm highlights and shadows on the buildings and figures.

techniques