plate no. 6171

The Pantheon and St. Etienne-du-Mont

Raoul Dufy, 1904

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsskyfiguresstreetarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex architectural forms and capturing the effects of light and shadow with bold brushstrokes. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve the vibrant yet harmonious palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main architectural shapes and the horizon line, focusing on proportions and perspective.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, buildings, and street using thinned paint.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow patterns on the buildings, using darker values for shadows and lighter values for highlights.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, columns, and architectural ornaments, simplifying the forms.
step 05
Paint the figures and street details, using small brushstrokes to suggest movement and activity.
step 06
Refine the sky, blending colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall composition and create visual interest.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green

Mix ultramarine blue with white for the sky, adding small amounts of yellow ochre for variations. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the buildings, mixing in small amounts of red or blue to adjust the color temperature. Create shadows by mixing complementary colors.

techniques