plate no. 7377

Blessing Christ and Praying Virgin

oil, panelNorthern Renaissancereligious paintingfiguresreligiousportraitsgold leafhalos

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations, as well as practicing the application of gold leaf.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare the panel with gesso and sand smooth.
step 02
Lightly sketch the outlines of the figures and halos, paying attention to proportions.
step 03
Apply gold leaf to the background and halos, burnishing for a smooth finish.
step 04
Begin painting the faces with thin layers of color, building up highlights and shadows.
step 05
Paint the drapery and clothing, focusing on the folds and textures.
step 06
Add details such as the hair, beard, and jewelry.
step 07
Glaze the painting with thin layers of color to unify the tones.
step 08
Apply a final varnish to protect the painting.

color palette

primary · gold · ivory · black · red

secondary · umber · rose · blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Create shadows with umber and blue. The gold background is achieved with gold leaf.

techniques