plate no. 3794

The wager

oilBaroquegenre paintinglandscapetreesfiguresanimalsskyclouds

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering complex foliage. It also provides practice in depicting figures and animals in a naturalistic setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the large tree, the horizon line, and the figures.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber, paying attention to the areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Block in the sky and clouds using a limited palette of white, yellow ochre, and raw umber.
step 04
Begin building up the foliage of the trees, using a variety of greens, browns, and yellows. Use small, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 05
Paint the figures and animals, paying attention to their proportions and anatomy. Use highlights and shadows to create form.
step 06
Add details to the landscape, such as the distant buildings and the reflections in the water.
step 07
Refine the painting by adjusting the values, colors, and details. Pay attention to the overall harmony of the composition.
step 08
Add final glazes to unify the colors and create depth.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · sap green

secondary · raw umber · cadmium yellow · ivory black

Achieve the various greens by mixing sap green with yellow ochre and burnt umber. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights. Mix burnt umber and ivory black for dark shadows.

techniques