plate no. 3664

Vittorio Emanuele in Naples on November 7th, 1860

oilRealismcityscapecityscapebuildingscrowdskyflagsarchitecture

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, atmospheric perspective, and rendering a large crowd of figures. It also provides practice in capturing architectural details and creating a sense of depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the perspective of the buildings and the placement of major elements.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and vanishing points to guide the perspective.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the buildings and the sky, using thin washes of color.
step 04
Add the basic colors for the crowd, using simplified shapes to represent the figures.
step 05
Develop the details of the buildings, including windows, columns, and decorative elements.
step 06
Refine the figures in the crowd, adding more detail and variation to their shapes and colors.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Finish with details like flags, banners, and architectural embellishments.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cerulean blue

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · viridian

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, white, and small amounts of blue or red. Use glazes of yellow ochre and raw umber to create the warm tones of the buildings.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·linear perspective
·scumbling
·glazing
·rendering crowds

common pitfalls

→Getting the perspective wrong, leading to a distorted composition.
→Overworking the details too early, before establishing the basic shapes and values.
→Making the crowd look too uniform and lacking in variation.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·raw umber oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·cerulean blue oil paint
·cadmium red oil paint
·yellow ochre oil paint
·round brushes (various sizes)
·linseed oil

optional

·palette knife
·medium gloss
·odorless mineral spirits

Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for both smooth blending and visible brushstrokes. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.

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