plate no. 3611

Madeleine of Bourgogne presented by St. Mary Magdalene

oil, panelNorthern Renaissancereligious paintingfiguresreligious sceneportraitclothinginteriorsaint

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations. It also provides practice in rendering drapery and textures with smooth blending techniques.

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 figures and key compositional elements.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, layering thin glazes to build up depth and luminosity.
step 04
Carefully render the drapery, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 05
Add details to the clothing and jewelry, using fine brushes for precision.
step 06
Paint the background with smooth, even tones.
step 07
Refine the facial features, capturing the expressions of the figures.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the forms.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · viridian · ultramarine blue · titanium white

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Darken shadows with burnt umber and a hint of blue. Create the green drapery by mixing viridian with yellow ochre and white.

techniques