plate no. 1437

The Progress of Love The Pursuit

oil, canvasRococogenre paintingfiguresgardentreesfoliagestatuearchitecture

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering complex foliage and figures in a naturalistic setting, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective and color harmony.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main shapes: figures, trees, architecture.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of blues and greens, focusing on atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Block in the larger masses of foliage with varying shades of green and brown.
step 04
Start defining the figures with light and shadow, paying attention to the drapery.
step 05
Add details to the architecture and statue, using a smaller brush.
step 06
Develop the foliage further, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 07
Refine the figures, adding details to the faces and clothing.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to the entire painting.

color palette

primary · sap green · titanium white · raw umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre · ivory black

Achieve the soft greens by mixing sap green with white and a touch of yellow. Create the darker tones by adding raw umber and ivory black to the greens. Use alizarin crimson and white for the pink hues in the figures' clothing and flowers.

techniques