plate no. 2184

The exit from the Mass

oil, canvasRomanticismgenre paintingfiguresbuildingcrowdstreetclothingarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures in a crowd and capturing the atmosphere of a busy street scene using a limited palette. It also provides practice in creating depth through layering and atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the architectural elements.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the darks and lights with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin to refine the figures, paying attention to their proportions and gestures.
step 04
Develop the background details, using softer edges and muted colors to create depth.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
step 06
Work on the details of the clothing and faces, using small brushes and careful observation.
step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to unify the painting and create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with each other and with white. Use small amounts of red and yellow to warm up the browns and grays.

techniques