plate no. 6829

The City of Cologne, engraved by M.J. Starling after Leitch

oilRomanticismcityscapecityscapebuildingswaterfiguresboatssky

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, rendering architectural details, and capturing reflections in water. It also provides practice in depicting figures in a landscape setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of major buildings and figures.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue wash, blending it towards the horizon.
step 03
Establish the basic shapes and values of the buildings, using a warm brown or ochre for the walls and a darker red for the roofs.
step 04
Paint the water, capturing the reflections of the buildings and boats with slightly blurred and muted colors.
step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, arches, and decorative elements, using a fine brush.
step 06
Paint the figures in the foreground, paying attention to their proportions and clothing.
step 07
Add final details to the foreground, such as rocks, sand, and vegetation.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · sky blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · sap green · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown and ochre by combining burnt umber, yellow ochre, and a touch of red or black. Create muted greens by mixing sap green with burnt umber.

techniques