plate no. 5993

The Pont Saint-Michel and Notre Dame

Albert Marquet, 1905

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapecityscapebridgebuildingwaterfiguressky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing reflections in water. 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
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the building, bridge, and Notre Dame in the background.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the basic perspective of the street.
step 03
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light gray and white.
step 04
Paint the background buildings and bridge with diluted blues and grays, focusing on atmospheric perspective.
step 05
Add the water, using horizontal brushstrokes and capturing the reflections of the bridge and figures.
step 06
Paint the street with warm browns and grays, blending the colors to create a sense of wetness.
step 07
Add the figures with simple, dark shapes.
step 08
Paint the building on the right with off-white and add the dark window details and the red awning.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · payne's gray

Mix various shades of gray by combining white, blue, and umber. Use red and yellow ochre to create the warm tones of the street and building. Add a touch of blue to the grays for the distant buildings to create atmospheric perspective.

techniques