plate no. 4220

View of Palace Square and Winter Palace in St. Petersburg

oilRealismcityscapebuildingscityscapefiguresskycolumnplaza

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, architectural rendering, and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in depicting crowds of figures in a believable way.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main architectural elements, paying attention to perspective and scale.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and vanishing points.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the buildings and the column with diluted washes of color.
step 04
Begin adding details to the architecture, focusing on windows, columns, and ornamentation.
step 05
Paint the sky with soft, blended washes of blue and yellow.
step 06
Add the figures in the foreground, simplifying their forms and using a limited color palette.
step 07
Refine the details of the column and its base.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

secondary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium yellow

Mix various shades of gray by combining ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, and white. Use yellow ochre and white to create the warm tones of the buildings and the sky. Add small amounts of red or brown to the ochre to create the ground color.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·linear perspective
·wash technique
·dry brushing
·layering

common pitfalls

→Incorrect perspective leading to distorted buildings.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
→Using colors that are too saturated and not reflecting the muted tones of the original.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and distance.