plate no. 7774

Hercules and Onphale

oil, canvasBaroquemythological paintingfiguresmythologycandlelightdraperytableinterior

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure painting, particularly rendering skin tones and drapery, as well as understanding chiaroscuro and creating a sense of depth through value contrast. It also provides practice in composing a multi-figure scene.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main figures and their positions.
step 02
Establish the background with dark, warm tones, focusing on the overall composition.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for each figure, paying attention to the light source and shadows.
step 04
Start building up the skin tones, using thin layers of paint and blending carefully.
step 05
Develop the drapery, focusing on the folds and highlights.
step 06
Add details to the faces and hands, paying attention to the expressions.
step 07
Refine the shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final details, such as the candle flame and any small objects on the table.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, sienna, and a touch of red. Use umber and black for shadows, and add blue to darken the background. Mix blue and white for the cool highlights on the drapery.

techniques

·chiaroscuro
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·underpainting

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to establish a strong light source and consistent shadows.
→Getting lost in details before establishing the overall composition.
→Inaccurate proportions of the figures.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, ivory black, ultramarine blue, cadmium red light, yellow ochre)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife