plate no. 1243

View of Amalfi from the porch of the cathedral

oil, canvasRomanticisminteriorarchitecturefiguresmountainscityscapearchescolumns

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, atmospheric perspective, and rendering complex architectural details. It also provides practice in painting figures in various poses and lighting conditions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the perspective and placement of the arches, columns, and major figures.
step 02
Block in the main shapes of the background landscape, focusing on the atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Establish the base tones for the architectural elements, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Start adding details to the buildings and mountains, gradually building up the texture and form.
step 05
Block in the figures with simple shapes, focusing on their poses and interactions.
step 06
Refine the figures, adding details to their clothing and faces.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension throughout the painting.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive and atmospheric effect.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ivory black

Achieve the warm tones of the architecture by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and yellow ochre. Create atmospheric perspective in the background by adding white and blue to the base colors.

techniques