plate no. 1861

Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist

oil, woodHigh Renaissancereligious paintingfiguresreligiouslandscapeskyclothingchildren

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, portraiture, and blending techniques to achieve soft transitions in skin tones and drapery. It also provides practice in creating a balanced composition with multiple figures.

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 and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Block in the background with thin washes of color, establishing the sky and landscape.
step 03
Establish the main color masses for the figures' clothing and skin tones.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Refine the details of the faces, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, such as folds and highlights.
step 07
Paint the details of the landscape and any other elements, such as the cross.
step 08
Add final glazes and highlights to create depth and luminosity.

color palette

primary · red · blue · white · earth tones

secondary · green · yellow · brown · pink

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow, and a touch of brown. Create subtle variations by adding small amounts of blue or green. The blue is dulled with burnt umber.

techniques