plate no. 2515

Christ blessing (The Saviour of the World)

oil, canvasMannerism (Late Renaissance)religious paintingfigurereligiousportraitrobehalohand

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing likeness and expression. It will also improve their understanding of chiaroscuro and creating depth with limited color palettes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, dark strokes, leaving space for the halo.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the robe (red and blue) using thin washes.
step 04
Begin building up the values in the face, using subtle gradations of light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the hair and beard, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the folds and highlights in the robe, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 07
Paint the hands, carefully observing the anatomy and gesture.
step 08
Add the halo and final details, such as highlights in the eyes.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of gray for the background by combining ivory black and titanium white. Create flesh tones by blending burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and titanium white. Use ultramarine blue and white to create the blue robe.

techniques