plate no. 3906

The St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna

watercolor, paperRomanticismcityscapecathedralbuildingsskyfigureshorsestreet

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective drawing, architectural rendering, and creating atmospheric effects with watercolor. It also provides practice in depicting figures and animals in a believable scale and setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main architectural elements, focusing on accurate perspective.
step 02
Block in the sky with a diluted blue wash, adding soft white clouds.
step 03
Establish the base tones of the buildings using a light ochre or yellow wash.
step 04
Add darker values to the buildings to define shadows and architectural details.
step 05
Paint the figures and horse with quick, gestural strokes, paying attention to their relative sizes.
step 06
Develop the cobblestone street with varying shades of gray and brown.
step 07
Add fine details to the cathedral and buildings, using a fine brush or pen.
step 08
Glaze over the entire painting to unify the colors and create depth.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · alizarin crimson · raw sienna · ivory black

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining burnt umber, ultramarine blue, and yellow ochre. Use diluted washes to create atmospheric perspective and subtle color variations.

techniques