plate no. 9876

Cristo Porta Croce

Francesco de' Rossi (Francesco Salviati), "Cecchino"

oilMannerism (Late Renaissance)religious paintingfiguremanreligiousbeardcrown of thornscross

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering realistic skin tones and depicting subtle emotions through facial expressions. It also provides practice in chiaroscuro, the use of strong contrasts between light and dark.

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 the proportions and placement of the figure and cross.
step 02
Establish the dark background using a dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face, body, and hand using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to create smooth transitions and realistic skin tones.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying close attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
step 06
Add the details of the beard and hair, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Paint the crown of thorns, focusing on the intricate details and the shadows it casts on the face.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the figure.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, sienna, umber, and small amounts of red. Use black and umber for shadows, and add white or yellow ochre for highlights.

techniques