plate no. 1870

Life of St Benedict, Scene 12. Benedict Receives Maurus and Placidus

frescoHigh Renaissancereligious paintingfiguresarchitecturelandscapereligious scenehorsessky

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, composition, and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It will also improve their understanding of color mixing to achieve subtle skin tones and fabric textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the main figures and architectural elements, paying attention to proportions and perspective.
step 02
Establish the background landscape and sky using thin washes of color, focusing on creating a sense of depth.
step 03
Block in the main color masses for each figure, using a limited palette of earth tones and gradually building up layers of color.
step 04
Refine the details of the faces and clothing, paying attention to the play of light and shadow to create form.
step 05
Add details to the architectural elements, such as the columns and arches, using a fine brush.
step 06
Introduce secondary colors to add interest and variation to the composition.
step 07
Glaze over areas to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre · Venetian red

secondary · Prussian blue · cadmium yellow light · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of Venetian red. Use raw umber and white to create the various shades of brown in the clothing and architecture. Mix Prussian blue with white to create the sky and distant landscape.

techniques