plate no. 6359

View of Dordrecht

oilBaroquelandscapeboatswaterskybuildingsfigurescityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering reflections in water. It also provides practice in creating subtle color gradations to depict light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, major shapes of the boats, buildings, and figures.
step 02
Block in the sky with light, muted tones, creating soft transitions between colors.
step 03
Establish the base color of the water, then add reflections of the boats and buildings, paying attention to distortion.
step 04
Paint the distant shoreline and buildings with muted colors to create atmospheric perspective.
step 05
Add details to the boats, including sails, rigging, and figures.
step 06
Paint the figures in the rowboat, focusing on capturing their basic shapes and colors.
step 07
Refine the details of the buildings and the tower, adding highlights and shadows.
step 08
Add final touches, such as birds in the sky and small details in the water.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow light · ivory black

Achieve the muted tones by mixing white with small amounts of umber, ochre, and blue. Use burnt sienna and yellow to create the warm highlights on the buildings and boats. Mix black with other colors to create darker values.

techniques