plate no. 5913

Last Judgement (Altarpiece for the Church of the Holy Apostles in Cologne, central panel)

oilInternational Gothicreligious paintingfiguresreligious sceneangelsdemonsarchitecturesky

advanced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, composition, and rendering complex scenes with many elements. It will also improve their understanding of color mixing and layering techniques to achieve depth and detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 40 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the major figures and architectural elements.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of golden yellow.
step 03
Block in the main figures (Christ, Mary, John) with their respective colors (red, blue, green).
step 04
Start adding details to the figures, focusing on drapery folds and facial features.
step 05
Paint the angels and demons, paying attention to their dynamic poses and expressions.
step 06
Develop the crowd of figures in the lower section, varying their skin tones and poses.
step 07
Add the architectural details of the church and the fiery landscape on the right.
step 08
Refine the details and add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · golden yellow · red · blue · green

secondary · brown · white · black · ochre

Achieve the golden background by mixing yellow ochre with a touch of burnt sienna and white. Mix shades of red, blue and green with white and black to create highlights and shadows.

techniques