plate no. 7463

View of Piazza della Loggia with snow

oil, canvasRealismcityscapecityscapestatuebuildingsfiguressnowsquare

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering architectural details, creating atmospheric perspective, and painting figures in a complex scene. It also provides practice in mixing subtle color variations to depict snow and weathered buildings.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main shapes: the statue, buildings, and the overall composition.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and vanishing points to ensure accurate perspective.
step 03
Block in the main color masses for the sky, buildings, and ground, focusing on the overall tonal values.
step 04
Start adding details to the statue and buildings, paying attention to the architectural elements and shadows.
step 05
Paint the figures in the foreground, focusing on their proportions and clothing details.
step 06
Add the snow details, using highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and texture.
step 07
Refine the details and add any final touches, such as the birds in the sky and the reflections in the snow.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the atmosphere.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · Prussian blue · cadmium red

Achieve the muted tones by mixing raw umber and white. Use yellow ochre for the buildings, and add burnt sienna for warmer tones. Mix Prussian blue with raw umber to create the cooler shadows in the snow and buildings.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·glazing
·rendering architectural details
·figure painting
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Incorrect perspective leading to a distorted composition.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall atmospheric effect.
→Using colors that are too bright and saturated, resulting in a painting that lacks subtlety.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and distance in the scene.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints (raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, Prussian blue, cadmium red)
·Turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Rags