plate no. 8217

The Seventh Plague

oilRomanticismreligious paintingplaguefiguresarchitecturestormlightningcityscape

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, dramatic lighting, and rendering complex architectural details. It also provides practice in depicting figures within a large-scale scene.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main architectural structures and the figures.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the sky and foreground with a dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the general shapes of the buildings and pyramids with mid-tone browns and grays.
step 04
Create the dramatic lighting effect by adding highlights to the clouds and buildings, focusing on the lightning strike area.
step 05
Develop the details of the architecture, using a fine brush to add columns, windows, and other features.
step 06
Paint the figures in the foreground, paying attention to their poses and expressions.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the waves in the water and the texture of the clouds.
step 08
Glaze the painting with thin layers of color to unify the composition and enhance the atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Achieve the various shades of brown and gray by mixing burnt umber, ivory black, and titanium white in different proportions. Use yellow ochre and cadmium red to create the warm tones of the buildings. Mix ultramarine blue with white for the cooler tones in the sky.

techniques