plate no. 1724
Calvary Triptych (right wing)
Justus van Gent, 1468
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, drapery, and atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering complex compositions with many figures.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 25 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and placement of figures.
- step 02
Block in the background landscape and sky with broad strokes.
- step 03
Start with the main figures, focusing on accurate proportions and poses.
- step 04
Develop the drapery, paying attention to folds and highlights.
- step 05
Add details to the faces and hands of the figures.
- step 06
Work on the crowd, simplifying details for figures further away.
- step 07
Refine the landscape, adding details to the rocks and vegetation.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · red ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white · raw umber
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black
Mix various shades of red and pink for the robes, using white to lighten and umber to darken. Create greens by mixing blue and yellow, and use umber to mute the colors for the background.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·underpainting
- ·figure drawing
- ·drapery
common pitfalls
- →getting figure proportions wrong
- →overworking details in the background
- →muddying colors by overmixing
- →failing to create depth through atmospheric perspective
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
- ·mahl stick
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to help establish the overall color scheme.
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