plate no. 7963

Apostle St. Simon

oil, canvasMannerism (Late Renaissance)religious paintingfigurebookportraitreligiousbeardrobe

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing light and shadow to create form, and in rendering drapery with a limited color palette. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through value control.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions of the figure and the placement of the book.
step 02
Establish the dark background using a thin wash of dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face, hands, and robe using a limited palette of earth tones and white.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle variations in value and color.
step 05
Develop the folds and highlights in the robe, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Add details to the book, such as the pages and binding.
step 07
Soften edges and blend areas as needed to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian

Achieve the skin tones by mixing raw umber, yellow ochre, and white. The green robe is a mix of ivory black, viridian, and white. Use thin washes of raw umber to create shadows.

techniques