| description | Courtyard of the Myrtles in the Alhambra Palace, Granada, Spain
John Singer Sargent's 1879 piece, Alhambra, Patio de los Arrayanes (Court of the Myrtles), is an oil on canvas
The watercolor is a study of the JSS oil painting.
Annotations
The roof is different in JSS court, now there's a pitched roof. The roof looks flat but overhanging, probably similar tile construction. The little Dome with spire in JSS is missing currently. The dark shadow of the roof line has black and many colors indicating reflections. Note in the roof line shadow the dots of penetrating sunlight, as if there were space between the roof tiles. The pointed arch doorway has the design from the cave of Muhammad, JSS has reflected light to give it texture
The lower right hand side of JSS is somewhat confused. The blue on the face of the wall with the arches looks like indigo and represents the intricate detail of the panel above the arches. The lower back wall under the arched walkway again has detail represented by blue and white Marks. The shadow from the arches could be an indigo wash although this is oil, very wash like. Very few explicit details, just in the main arch at the very top, the rectangular tops of the posts are delineated with bright gold, as are the curly details in the corners of the arch. Although details are hinted at across the face of the arched wall.
The smaller middle arch has shimmering light reflected from the pool within the shadow on the wall. The shadow also has dots of light as if penetrating the design work in the panel above the arch. Under the big arch, the small arched windows at the top, are reflecting or refracting light. The light could be from shimmer reflection from the pool or interior light. Shimmer reflecting light on the wall below the arched windows. Can see through the arch doorway the three windows at the far end. Note the shadow of the post swerving into the doorway.
The orientation of the sun is just over the artists right shoulder low in the sky. I don't understand the red along the roof line, but it doesn't seem obtrusive.
One thing I don't understand, on the right side of the post of the big arch, which should be in sunlight from the angle, appears darker as if in shadow.
Approach.
Mask off details as white paper to be painted later. The walls are a combination of Naples, yellow dark, Lead tin, yellow, dark and lemon yellow for the brightest sun reflection. Save Naples yellow light for the detail. Must decide to go indigo or ultramarine for the shadows, JSS has indigo. There is turquoise in the details on the lower wall, interestingly, in the reflection, it changes to bright green.
The hedge by the sidewalk is mostly in shadow, except for the end near the arches should be in bright sunlight, along with a section of the walkway
naples yellow dark with realgar glaze, 3cb |
