plate no. 1799
The Last Hours of Pompei
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting helps students practice creating a sense of depth using perspective and atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering realistic textures and subtle color variations.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the perspective of the checkered floor.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes: the wall, floor, table, figure, tree, dog, and goose.
- step 03
Establish the light source and begin to define the shadows and highlights.
- step 04
Develop the background, gradually adding details and refining the colors.
- step 05
Work on the figure, dog, and goose, paying attention to their anatomy and expressions.
- step 06
Add details to the table and tablecloth, capturing the folds and textures.
- step 07
Refine the tree, adding leaves and branches.
- step 08
Add the final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · cerulean blue
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black
Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, burnt sienna, ivory black, and titanium white. Use cerulean blue to create the figure's clothing and hat, and mix it with white for lighter shades.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·linear perspective
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect perspective of the floor tiles.
- →Overly bright or saturated colors.
- →Lack of subtle value changes.
- →Inaccurate proportions of the figures and objects.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cerulean blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-sized canvas (e.g., 16x20 inches) is recommended.
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