plate no. 2365

Madonna and Child

Francesco de' Rossi (Francesco Salviati), "Cecchino"

oilMannerism (Late Renaissance)religious paintingfigureMadonnachildreligiousdraperyhalo

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone blending. It also provides practice in rendering drapery and creating a sense of depth through value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the main figures and their proportions.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, neutral tone.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones of the Madonna and Child, focusing on the light and shadow areas.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones to create smooth transitions.
step 05
Paint the drapery, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 06
Add details to the faces, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Refine the overall composition and add any final touches.
step 08
Varnish the painting to protect it and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · viridian green · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue. Use burnt umber and white for shadows. Create the drapery colors by mixing the primary colors with white and umber.

techniques