plate no. 5436

The Strongest

Fortunino Matania, 1915

lithographyRealismgenre paintingfiguresbuildinghorseroadskywar

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic figures and creating atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in depicting textures like wet roads and worn clothing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main figures and the building, paying attention to proportions and placement.
step 02
Establish the basic value structure with a thin wash of neutral tones, focusing on the overall light and shadow patterns.
step 03
Begin layering in local colors, starting with the background and working towards the foreground.
step 04
Develop the details of the figures, including facial features, clothing folds, and textures.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Refine the details of the building and surrounding environment.
step 07
Pay special attention to the reflections on the wet road surface.
step 08
Add final touches and adjustments to unify the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with white and small amounts of the secondary colors. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create a range of grays.

techniques