plate no. 4367

Dormition of the Virgin

oilInternational Gothicreligious paintingfiguresreligious sceneangelsinteriorhaloesdrapery

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering complex drapery, depicting figures in various poses, and understanding the use of symbolic elements in religious art.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 40 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the composition and placement of figures.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background and figures using thin washes.
step 03
Develop the drapery, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 04
Refine the facial features and expressions of each figure.
step 05
Add details such as the halos, books, and other symbolic objects.
step 06
Paint the angels and the cloud formation in the upper part of the composition.
step 07
Glaze the painting to unify the colors and add depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the forms.

color palette

primary · red ochre · viridian green · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · ivory black

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth pigments with white and small amounts of blue or black. Use glazes of transparent colors to create depth and luminosity.

techniques

·glazing
·underpainting
·rendering drapery
·portraiture
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→getting lost in the details too early
→overworking the paint
→inaccurate proportions of figures
→muddying the colors

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (red ochre, viridian green, yellow ochre, titanium white, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags