plate no. 0687

Life of St Benedict, Scene 5. The Devil Destroys the Little Bell

frescoHigh Renaissancereligious paintingfigureslandscaperockstreesarchitecturereligious

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures in drapery and creating atmospheric perspective in landscapes. It provides practice in depicting complex rock formations and architectural elements.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and major landscape elements.
step 02
Establish the light source and map out the areas of light and shadow on the figures and rocks.
step 03
Begin blocking in the sky and distant landscape with thin washes of color.
step 04
Develop the rock formations, layering colors to create depth and texture.
step 05
Paint the figures, paying attention to the folds and highlights in the drapery.
step 06
Add details to the trees and other vegetation, varying the brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Refine the architectural elements in the background, focusing on perspective.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · cerulean blue · burnt sienna · ivory black

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of blue or black. Use thin washes of color to build up depth and atmosphere.

techniques