plate no. 6940

The Steps of the Church of S. S. Domenico-e-Siste in Rome

John Singer Sargent, 1906

oil, canvasImpressionismcityscapearchitecturestairsbuildingskystoneworkcityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering form with broken color and understanding atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in depicting complex architectural details using simplified brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the architecture.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Establish the darkest darks and lightest lights to create a sense of depth.
step 04
Begin adding details to the stonework, using broken color to suggest texture.
step 05
Refine the shapes and edges of the architectural elements.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create a sense of form.
step 07
Soften some edges to create atmospheric perspective.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of gray and beige by combining white, umber, yellow ochre, and small amounts of blue and sienna. Use more blue for cooler shadows and more sienna for warmer highlights.

techniques

·broken color
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·value study

common pitfalls

→Getting bogged down in details too early.
→Over-blending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Ignoring the overall value structure.
→Failing to create a sense of depth.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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