plate no. 5698
Lamentation of Christ (detail)
Geertgen tot Sint Jans, 1484
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, rendering fabric textures, and creating subtle gradations in skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting emotion through facial expressions.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the main figures and their positions.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas: skin tones, clothing, and background.
- step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in value and color.
- step 04
Work on the fabric of the clothing, focusing on the folds and highlights.
- step 05
Add details to the faces, including the eyes, nose, and mouth. Pay close attention to the expression of grief.
- step 06
Render the hands, carefully observing the anatomy and the way they are clasped.
- step 07
Add the decorative details on the sleeves and head coverings.
- step 08
Refine the background and add any final details.
color palette
primary · ivory black · yellow ochre · cadmium red light
secondary · raw umber · titanium white · gold
Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, cadmium red light, and titanium white. Use raw umber to create shadows and depth in the clothing and background. Mix gold with yellow ochre and a touch of raw umber.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to capture the subtle nuances of the facial expressions.
- →Ignoring the importance of light and shadow in creating depth.
- →Getting lost in the details and losing sight of the overall composition.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·assorted round and flat brushes
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retouch varnish
- ·medium
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to improve the flow and blending of the paints.
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