plate no. 6306

The Holy Communion Celebrated in Stange Church

Harriet Backer, 1903

oil, canvasNaturalismgenre paintingchurch interiorfiguresaltararchitecturereligious scenewindows

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting atmospheric perspective and rendering figures in a dimly lit interior space. Students will also learn to simplify complex architectural details and create a sense of depth through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the perspective and placement of key elements like the altar, windows, and figures.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the main areas of light and shadow with diluted washes of color.
step 03
Begin refining the architectural details, paying attention to the shapes of the arches and the placement of the windows.
step 04
Add the figures, starting with the larger shapes and gradually adding details like the folds in their clothing.
step 05
Develop the altar area, focusing on capturing the intricate details and the play of light and shadow.
step 06
Refine the lighting and atmospheric perspective, adding subtle value changes to create a sense of depth.
step 07
Add final details, such as highlights on the figures and architectural elements.
step 08
Step back and make any necessary adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · viridian

Achieve the muted tones by mixing raw umber and ivory black with varying amounts of titanium white. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for warm highlights and viridian for subtle cool tones in the shadows.

techniques

·grisaille underpainting
·scumbling
·glazing
·atmospheric perspective
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting lost in the details too early, before establishing the overall value structure.
→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to create a convincing sense of depth and atmospheric perspective.
→Making the figures too detailed and distracting from the overall composition.