plate no. 0009

The election of George of Poděbrady as King of Bohemia

oil, canvasAcademicismhistory paintingfiguresinteriorhistorical eventcrowdarchitectureceremony

advanced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting complex scenes with many figures and understanding how to create depth and atmosphere using value and color. It also provides practice in rendering realistic figures and drapery.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 40 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 areas of color, focusing on the large shapes and value relationships.
step 03
Develop the background and architectural details, paying attention to perspective.
step 04
Start refining the figures, working from general shapes to more specific details.
step 05
Focus on the faces and hands, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
step 06
Add details to the clothing and accessories, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of other colors. Use glazes to build up depth and richness in the shadows.

techniques

·figure drawing
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Getting lost in the details too early without establishing the overall composition.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Making the colors too bright and saturated.
→Incorrect proportions of the figures.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (24x36 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, ivory black, titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife