plate no. 2627

Madonna (Beautiful Maria of Regensburg)

oil, woodNorthern Renaissancereligious paintingMadonnachildreligious figurehalorobeportrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, figure painting, and creating a sense of depth through value and color. It also provides practice in rendering drapery and subtle facial expressions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare the canvas with a dark ground (burnt umber wash).
step 02
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the halo.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: the skin tones, the red robe, and the black cloak.
step 04
Begin layering the skin tones, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value.
step 05
Develop the drapery of the robe and cloak, using darker values to create shadows and lighter values to highlight folds.
step 06
Paint the halo with a warm, glowing yellow, blending it into the background.
step 07
Add details such as the facial features, the hands, and the decorative elements on the cloak.
step 08
Glaze the painting with thin layers of color to unify the composition and enhance the depth.

color palette

primary · ivory black · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · titanium white

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Achieve the dark blacks by mixing ivory black with burnt umber. Create the halo by layering yellow ochre and white.

techniques