plate no. 4395
The market at Szolnok
August von Pettenkofen, 1859
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting atmospheric perspective and rendering figures in a crowd. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and movement within a complex composition.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the basic composition and placement of key elements like the monument, buildings, and groups of figures.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of blue and gray, paying attention to subtle variations in tone.
- step 03
Establish the main value masses for the buildings and ground, using a limited palette of earth tones.
- step 04
Start adding details to the monument, focusing on capturing the light and shadow.
- step 05
Begin rendering the figures, starting with the larger groups and gradually adding details to the individuals.
- step 06
Work on the horses and carts, paying attention to their forms and how they interact with the surrounding figures.
- step 07
Add details to the foreground elements, such as the pottery and other market goods.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition and add final touches to create a sense of atmosphere and depth.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light
Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining burnt umber, ultramarine blue, and white. Use yellow ochre to add warmth to the earth tones, and cadmium red light for accents in the figures' clothing.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Getting bogged down in details too early.
- →Failing to establish a clear sense of depth.
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Not paying attention to the relative values of the different elements.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·palette knife
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·retouch varnish
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of burnt umber before starting to paint.
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