plate no. 9053

Vittor Pisani freed from prison and carried in triumph (2nd version)

oil, canvasRomanticismhistory paintingfiguresarchitecturecolumnsflagstairscrowd

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a crowd and understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth. It also provides practice in rendering architectural details and drapery.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition and placement of figures and architectural elements.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color, focusing on the large areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Develop the architectural details, paying attention to the perspective and the play of light on the columns and walls.
step 04
Start adding details to the figures, working from the background to the foreground.
step 05
Refine the colors and values, using glazes and scumbles to create depth and atmosphere.
step 06
Add highlights and details to the figures and architectural elements to create a sense of realism.
step 07
Pay attention to the drapery and clothing folds to add dimension to the figures.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · ivory black

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of blue or green. Use glazes of transparent colors to create depth and luminosity.

techniques

·underpainting
·glazing
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·figure drawing

common pitfalls

→Getting lost in the details too early before establishing the overall composition and values.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Making the figures look stiff and unnatural.
→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the initial layers.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, viridian green, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife