plate no. 1683

Apparition of Jesus Child to St. Anthony of Padua

oilBaroquereligious paintingfigurereligiousbookflowershalochild

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand chiaroscuro and how to create form with light and shadow. It also provides practice in rendering drapery and subtle skin tones.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the placement of the figure and other elements.
step 02
Establish the dark background with a thin wash of dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure and the book with mid-tone browns and grays.
step 04
Begin building up the highlights on the figure's face, hands, and robe, using lighter shades of the base colors.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value.
step 06
Add the details of the book and flowers, using small brushes and precise strokes.
step 07
Create the apparition of the child with soft, diffused edges and a glowing effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, burnt umber, and titanium white. Use yellow ochre to warm up the skin tones and ivory black to deepen the shadows.

techniques