plate no. 0767

Ecce Homo

oilHigh Renaissancereligious paintingfigurereligiousportraitcrown of thornsmendark background

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering realistic skin tones and creating dramatic chiaroscuro effects. It also provides practice in depicting complex textures like hair and fabric.

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 placement of the figures and the overall proportions.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the painting with a thin wash of dark brown or black.
step 03
Begin blocking in the mid-tones of the skin, using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Gradually build up the highlights on the face and body, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value.
step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small brushes and precise strokes.
step 06
Paint the crown of thorns, focusing on the texture and the way the light interacts with the thorns.
step 07
Refine the background, ensuring that it remains dark and atmospheric.
step 08
Add final details, such as the blood droplets and the highlights on the fabric.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · titanium white · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white with small amounts of burnt sienna, raw umber, and yellow ochre. Use alizarin crimson for subtle redness in the cheeks and lips. Create dark shadows by mixing raw umber and ivory black.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·portraiture
·blending

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using too much color and losing the subtle tonality.
→Making the background too light, which would flatten the image.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (raw umber, burnt sienna, ivory black, titanium white, alizarin crimson, yellow ochre)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat, various sizes)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags or paper towels