plate no. 4653

Life of St Benedict, Scene 1. Benedict Leaves His Parent's House

frescoHigh Renaissancereligious paintingfigureshorseslandscapecityscapeanimalsreligious scene

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, creating atmospheric perspective, and mixing subtle color variations for skin tones and drapery.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main figures, horses, and landscape elements.
step 02
Establish the background sky and distant cityscape with thin washes of color.
step 03
Block in the main color masses for the figures and horses, focusing on accurate proportions and anatomical structure.
step 04
Develop the light and shadow on the figures and drapery, using layering and glazing techniques.
step 05
Add details to the faces, hands, and clothing, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 06
Refine the landscape elements, adding details to the trees, buildings, and ground.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Glaze over the entire painting to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, cadmium red light, and titanium white. Create atmospheric perspective by adding ultramarine blue to distant colors.

techniques