plate no. 4719

The Roman Forum and the Arch of Triumph by Septimius Severus

oil, canvasAcademicismcityscapearchitectureruinsarchcityscapeskybuildings

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting architectural forms with light and shadow, as well as creating atmospheric perspective in a cityscape. It also offers practice in capturing textures of stone and aged structures.

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 and perspective lines of the arch and buildings.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Establish the darkest shadows and lightest highlights on the arch and surrounding structures.
step 04
Begin refining the details of the stonework, paying attention to the texture and irregularities.
step 05
Paint the background buildings and sky, using lighter values and softer edges to create distance.
step 06
Add details to the foreground, including the ground and any smaller architectural elements.
step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and value relationships to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to emphasize the focal point.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cerulean blue · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, yellow ochre, and titanium white. Use cerulean blue to create the sky and mix with white for lighter tones. Add burnt sienna to warm up the browns and create shadows.

techniques

·dry brushing
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·value blocking
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the perspective wrong on the arch and buildings.
→Making the colors too saturated and unrealistic.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
→Not establishing a clear value structure.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, cerulean blue, burnt sienna)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags

optional

·medium gloss
·easel
·color chart

Use a canvas with a medium texture to help create the rough texture of the stone. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.

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