plate no. 0004

Cardinal Bessarione

panel, oilNorthern Renaissanceportraitportraitfigurebookrobehatinterior

some experience helpful

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

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, book, and background.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, using layers of thin glazes to build up depth and luminosity.
step 04
Paint the robe, paying close attention to the way the fabric folds and drapes.
step 05
Render the book, focusing on the texture and details of the cover.
step 06
Add the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Refine the background and add any final details.
step 08
Glaze and varnish the finished painting to protect it and enhance its colors.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · viridian · titanium white

Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, cadmium red, and titanium white. Use ivory black and burnt umber for the dark areas of the robe. Mix viridian with yellow ochre for the green background.

techniques