plate no. 2698

The Interior of Henry VII Chapel in Westminster Abbey

oil, canvasBaroqueinteriorarchitectureinteriorfiguresarcheswindowscheckerboard floor

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective drawing, rendering complex architectural details, and understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch, establishing the basic perspective lines and major architectural elements.
step 02
Block in the large shapes of the walls, ceiling, and floor, paying attention to the overall composition.
step 03
Start adding details to the architectural elements, focusing on the repetitive patterns and intricate designs.
step 04
Establish the light source and begin shading the walls and ceiling to create depth and dimension.
step 05
Add the figures in the foreground and background, paying attention to their scale and placement.
step 06
Refine the details of the checkerboard floor, using perspective to create the illusion of depth.
step 07
Add the flags and other decorative elements, paying attention to their color and placement.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and details to create a cohesive and realistic image.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Achieve the various shades of white and gray by mixing titanium white with small amounts of ivory black and raw umber. Use yellow ochre and cadmium red for the figures' clothing.

techniques