plate no. 3385

Angel (fragment of the Baronci altarpiece)

oil, canvasHigh Renaissancereligious paintingfigureangelportraitreligioushairclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering skin tones and subtle gradations of light and shadow. It also provides practice in depicting drapery and hair.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the angel's head, shoulders, and drapery.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas using a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar neutral tone.
step 03
Begin layering in skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Paint the hair, paying attention to the direction of the curls and the way light reflects off them.
step 05
Block in the colors of the drapery, focusing on the folds and highlights.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, such as the decorative border around the neckline.
step 07
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure without distracting from it.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · viridian green

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Shadows are created by adding burnt sienna and a small amount of blue. The drapery colors are muted and earthy, achieved by mixing primary colors with white and black.

techniques