plate no. 4129

The Fall of the Gigants

frescoMannerism (Late Renaissance)mythological paintingfigurescloudsarchitecturemythologyskylandscape

advanced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, foreshortening, and creating atmospheric perspective with clouds. It also provides practice in managing a complex composition with many elements.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 40 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the overall composition and perspective.
step 02
Block in the major shapes of the architecture, figures, and clouds with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin adding details to the architectural elements, paying attention to the perspective.
step 04
Start building up the figures, focusing on accurate anatomy and foreshortening.
step 05
Develop the cloud formations, using layers of light and shadow to create depth.
step 06
Refine the color palette, mixing subtle variations to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the forms.
step 08
Finish with final details and adjustments to the overall composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · cadmium red light

Achieve the cloud tones by mixing white with small amounts of umber and sienna. Use ultramarine and viridian sparingly to create cool shadows in the clouds and landscape. Mix flesh tones from white, yellow ochre, and cadmium red.

techniques

·grisaille underpainting
·glazing
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·figure drawing

common pitfalls

→Getting lost in the complexity of the composition.
→Failing to establish a strong sense of perspective.
→Overworking the details before establishing the overall form.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·titanium white oil paint
·raw umber oil paint
·burnt sienna oil paint
·yellow ochre oil paint
·ultramarine blue oil paint
·assorted round and flat brushes
·linseed oil

optional

·palette knife
·retouch varnish
·medium gloss
·turpentine

A large canvas is recommended to accommodate the complexity of the composition. Consider using a toned canvas to simplify the initial stages of painting.

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