plate no. 0203

Etienne Chevalier with St. Stephen

oil, woodNorthern Renaissanceportraitfiguresrobesbookinteriorportraitreligious

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic skin tones, drapery folds, and subtle gradations of light and shadow. It also provides practice in capturing the likeness of a subject and creating a sense of depth through careful observation and layering.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the composition and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background and figures using thin washes of paint.
step 03
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying close attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Develop the drapery folds and textures of the robes, using a combination of blending and dry brushing.
step 05
Add details to the book, pine cone, and other objects, using small brushes and precise strokes.
step 06
Refine the facial features and expressions of the figures, focusing on capturing their likeness.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · red · blue · yellow ochre · ivory black

secondary · gold · white · brown

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and brown. Create the deep blues by mixing ultramarine blue with a touch of black. Mix the gold accents using yellow ochre, a touch of burnt sienna, and white for highlights.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·underpainting
·portraiture
·drapery rendering

common pitfalls

→inaccurate proportions
→muddy colors
→lack of value contrast
→overblending
→neglecting details

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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