plate no. 8718

The Louis-Philippe Bridge and the Saint Gervais Church

Raoul Dufy, 1904

oil, canvasImpressionismcityscapecityscapebridgechurchbuildingsfiguressky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to create atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, bridge, and church, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes, establishing the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin adding layers of broken color with visible brushstrokes, focusing on capturing the light and atmosphere.
step 04
Mix colors directly on the canvas to achieve subtle variations and optical blending.
step 05
Develop the details of the buildings and figures with small, expressive strokes.
step 06
Refine the highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Add final touches to the sky and water, blending colors to create a sense of movement.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall composition, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · alizarin crimson · violet · sap green

Mix various shades of gray and blue for the sky and buildings. Use burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the bridge and foreground. Mix violet by combining alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue.

techniques