plate no. 8376

Christ in the House of Simon

oilBaroquereligious paintingfigurestablefoodreligious sceneinteriorcloth

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in tonal painting, glazing, and depicting complex figure arrangements with limited color palettes. It will also improve understanding of chiaroscuro and creating depth through value.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare a toned canvas with a mid-tone brown.
step 02
Lightly sketch the main figures and table arrangement using charcoal or a thin wash of burnt umber.
step 03
Establish the darkest shadows with a thin wash of burnt umber and black.
step 04
Block in the mid-tones using a mixture of burnt umber, raw sienna, and white.
step 05
Begin adding highlights to the figures and tablecloth, focusing on areas of direct light.
step 06
Refine the details of the faces and hands, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value.
step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to build up depth and richness in the shadows.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · red oxide

Achieve the various skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and white in different proportions. Use small amounts of black to darken shadows and yellow ochre or red oxide to add warmth to the skin.

techniques