plate no. 8992
Hesselin Madonna
Simon Vouet, 1645
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering skin tones and drapery folds, and understanding chiaroscuro.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures and drapery.
- step 02
Establish the dark background with a thin layer of dark paint.
- step 03
Block in the main color areas for the skin, clothing, and drapery.
- step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Develop the folds and shadows in the drapery, using lighter and darker values.
- step 06
Add details to the faces, hands, and foliage.
- step 07
Refine the edges and blend the transitions between colors.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
secondary · cadmium red · ivory black
Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Create the blue drapery by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of black for shadows. The yellow drapery is a mix of yellow ochre and white, with burnt umber for shadows.
techniques
- ·blending
- ·glazing
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·portraiture
- ·drapery study
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
- →Failing to establish a strong value contrast, making the painting look dull.
- →Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
- →Not paying enough attention to the details in the faces and hands.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-sized canvas (16x20 inches or larger) is recommended.
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