plate no. 6850

The Assassination of the US President William Mckinley, Buffalo (NY) 1901

Achille Beltrame, 1901

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)illustrationcrowdfiguresinteriorflagassassinationhistorical event

experienced study

This painting offers practice in rendering figures in a crowd and capturing a sense of drama through composition and value. Students can also learn to depict textures of clothing and architectural details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition and placement of figures.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using a limited palette of browns, blacks, and whites.
step 03
Develop the background elements, focusing on the architectural details and the flag.
step 04
Refine the figures, paying attention to their poses and expressions.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, such as folds and textures.
step 06
Introduce subtle color variations to create depth and interest.
step 07
Pay close attention to the lighting and shadows to enhance the dramatic effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre · titanium white

Mix blacks and browns with white to create various shades of gray and brown. Use small amounts of red and yellow to add warmth to the skin tones and fabrics.

techniques