plate no. 9333
Lamentation of Christ
Leo Steel, 1903
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, drapery depiction, and creating a somber mood through color and value. It also provides practice in rendering realistic skin tones and textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 30 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the main figures and the cross.
- step 02
Block in the background sky and landscape with broad strokes.
- step 03
Establish the basic shapes and values of the figures, focusing on proportions.
- step 04
Begin layering in colors, starting with the darker tones and shadows.
- step 05
Develop the drapery folds and textures, paying attention to how light interacts with the fabric.
- step 06
Refine the facial features and expressions of each figure.
- step 07
Add details such as the halos and the ladder.
- step 08
Apply final glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue · cadmium red
secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · ivory black
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Create the dark blues by mixing ultramarine with burnt umber and black. Muted greens can be achieved by mixing yellow ochre, ultramarine blue and burnt umber.
techniques
- ·underpainting
- ·glazing
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·drapery rendering
- ·figure drawing
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions of figures
- →Overly bright or saturated colors
- →Flat or lifeless drapery
- →Lack of value contrast
- →Poor blending of skin tones
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
- ·Oil paints (burnt umber, titanium white, ultramarine blue, cadmium red, yellow ochre, raw sienna, ivory black)
- ·Palette
- ·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Palette knife
- ·Rags
optional
- ·Retouch varnish
- ·Medium (e.g., Liquin)
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-tooth canvas will provide a good surface for layering.
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