plate no. 7219

The church of St. Severin in Cologne in a fictive setting

oil, panelBaroquecityscapecityscapearchitecturebuildingsskyfigurestrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and accurately depicting architectural details. It also provides practice in rendering figures and foliage in a landscape setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main architectural shapes and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and whites, paying attention to cloud shapes.
step 03
Establish the base colors for the buildings, using a mix of browns, grays, and ochres.
step 04
Paint the distant trees and foliage with muted greens and blues to create depth.
step 05
Add details to the architecture, such as windows, arches, and textures.
step 06
Paint the figures in the foreground, focusing on their proportions and placement.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
step 08
Refine details and adjust colors as needed to achieve a cohesive and atmospheric effect.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · raw umber · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow light · ivory black · sap green

Mix blues and whites for the sky, adding a touch of yellow ochre for warmth. Use raw umber and white for the stone buildings, and mix greens with yellow ochre and blue for the foliage. Add burnt sienna to create warmer tones.

techniques