plate no. 5398

The royal pairs

oilRocococityscapecityscapefigureshorsestreesbuildingsky

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting atmospheric perspective and rendering complex scenes with numerous figures. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and movement.

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 to establish the overall composition and perspective.
step 02
Block in the large shapes of the building, trees, and arena.
step 03
Establish the sky and background atmosphere using thin washes.
step 04
Start adding details to the building, focusing on light and shadow.
step 05
Begin painting the figures, starting with the larger groups and then moving to the individual riders.
step 06
Add details to the horses and their riders, paying attention to their postures and clothing.
step 07
Refine the details of the foreground figures and add any final touches.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the atmosphere.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · ivory black

Achieve the atmospheric haze by mixing white with small amounts of blue and raw umber. Use burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the warm tones of the building and figures.

techniques