plate no. 8598

Lactation of San Bernando

oilBaroquereligious paintingfiguresreligiousrobesbabyskyscroll

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, figure painting, and rendering fabric folds. It also provides practice in creating a dramatic chiaroscuro effect.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the placement of the figures.
step 02
Establish the dark background with a thin wash of dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures with mid-tones, focusing on accurate proportions.
step 04
Begin layering highlights and shadows on the faces and hands, building up the form gradually.
step 05
Paint the drapery, carefully observing the folds and highlights to create a sense of volume.
step 06
Add details to the scroll and other objects in the foreground.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and adding subtle color variations.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red light · viridian

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining ivory black, raw umber, and titanium white. Use small amounts of cadmium red light to warm up skin tones and add subtle color variations to the drapery. Viridian can be used to create the green in the bottom left.

techniques