plate no. 0165

Lamentation of Christ (Grey Passion-11)

oilInternational Gothicreligious paintingfiguresreligious scenecrossdraperyhaloesbody

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, drapery rendering, and subtle color mixing to create realistic skin tones and fabric folds. It also provides practice in creating a complex composition with multiple figures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, focusing on the placement and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Block in the main shapes of the figures and drapery with a thin wash of a neutral color.
step 03
Begin layering in the skin tones, starting with the shadows and gradually adding highlights.
step 04
Develop the drapery, paying close attention to the folds and highlights to create a sense of volume.
step 05
Add details to the faces, hands, and feet, using small brushes and fine lines.
step 06
Paint the background with a flat, even tone.
step 07
Add the haloes using a light, shimmering gold or yellow.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a cohesive and balanced composition.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, raw umber, and a touch of red. Achieve the drapery colors by mixing white with small amounts of raw umber and ivory black for shadows, and yellow ochre for highlights.

techniques