This is a very traditional method, in terms of the order of painting. Things/areas that are furthest away get covered first then you fill the figures after they have been surrounded. Then I move left to right, because I’m right handed, and don’t want to smear.

Thank you for that important tidbit. Is it the same in traditional portraiture – the similar ordering? And, would you also be working similarly when you layer the oil with the white tempera? I also “assumed” that you would be painting with full arm extended straight standing back as far as possible so smearing would not be an issue – as it is when drawing. And, please tell me – you ARE painting dressed in a traditional studio painters’ beret?! ;-)

The idea in working background to foreground is to set the tonal range of each section. When the object already has whatever surrounds it put in, then you know exactly what tonal note to hit when you paint it. It makes total sense, but I don’t always follow it to the letter. I often under paint the figures first because i’m still working out bits of them as I paint, and I want to know their precise outlines before I work in the background. I then make adjustment to them tonally after the background is in.