3 min read Art

Painting the Gate of Justice

Whimsical watercolour painting of a large stone gate with pink tones and purple shadows. Two tiny people stand in front of the gate, which is framed by greenery.
Watercolour painting of la Puerta de la Justicia at the Alhambra, Granada by emma bolton.

The Gate of Justice or la Puerta de la Justicia is my favourite way to enter the Alhambra palace in Granada.  Built in 1348, it’s the largest of the four gates in the Alhambra’s walls. Like so much of the architecture at the Alhambra, its layers mix the work of different peoples, times and faiths.

When I paint, I’m not trying to create a realistic sketch. (I have a camera for that!) Expressing the feeling of a scene is the most important aspect of painting for me, and my favourite way to do that is by playing with colours and textures. 

The gate is the star of this sketch. So I painted it using a mix of Burnt Sienna and Potter’s Pink to create granulation and texture, with a touch of Permanent Rose to include some whimsy. I added French Ultramarine to create purple and chocolate brown hues in the shadows and add even more texture. The pinks and purples help to create a sense that the gate stands outside of time.  

Photo of a large stone gate in sandy beige. Two tiny people stand in front of the gate, which is framed by greenery and stone walls. The sky is cloudy and some winter trees are visible in the distance.
La Puerta de la Justicia or the Gate of Justice at the Alhambra, Granada by emma bolton.

I took the reference photo (above) on a cloudy day in March 2025, but normally the sun is bright in Granada and casts strong shadows. So I changed the direction of the light to the top righthand corner of the sketch to add more depth and a sense of being grounded. The turquoise sky is light and dreamy so we focus on the gate itself, and the greenery helps to frame it. 

I’ve visited the Alhambra at least eight times in the last two years, and I still feel awe every time I go. In this commission, I wanted to capture the gate’s majesty, so I included two tourists who’ve paused to take it all in.  

The Alhambra is a subject I come back to sketch again and again. I fall in love in a different way each time, discovering new details, plants and history with each season that I visit. I hope this sketch brings you some of the joy I experienced while creating it.

Have you visited the Alhambra? How did you feel entering the palace complex?

What did you take away from the visit?

Sketches from Granada celebrates every-day moments of connection with strangers, friends and ourselves. I know how easy it is not to be present in your life, and I hope these sketches inspire you to seek out the moments worth savouring in your own life. 

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