plate no. 8599

The massacre of Altamura (preparatory sketch)

oil, canvasRealismhistory paintingfiguresbuildingskysmokecrowdarchitecture

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting complex scenes with many figures and creating atmospheric perspective using value and color. It will also improve their understanding of composition and how to create a sense of depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the building, the crowd, and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the darkest and lightest values to create a sense of depth and drama.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the building and the crowd using simplified color masses.
step 04
Begin to refine the details of the building, paying attention to the architectural elements and the effects of light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the figures in the crowd, focusing on capturing their gestures and expressions.
step 06
Create atmospheric perspective by softening the edges and reducing the contrast of objects in the distance.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create a sense of form and volume.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and add any final details.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with black and white. Use small amounts of red and blue to create subtle color variations in the figures and the sky.

techniques