plate no. 1836

Woman and child in basement

oilNeoclassicismgenre paintingfiguresinteriorarchitecturekitchenbarrelwindow

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic figures in an interior setting, and understanding how light interacts with various surfaces and textures.

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 placement of the figures and the architectural elements.
step 02
Establish the main light source and map out the areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Block in the large shapes with thin washes of color, starting with the background.
step 04
Begin to build up the details of the figures, paying attention to the folds of the clothing and the facial features.
step 05
Develop the textures of the walls, floor, and other objects in the scene.
step 06
Refine the details and add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to unify the painting and adjust the overall tone.
step 08
Add final details and highlights.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of blue or red. Use glazes of burnt umber and raw sienna to create depth and warmth.

techniques