plate no. 7667
Madonna
Lorenzo Monaco, 1425
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, glazing techniques, and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in rendering drapery and decorative details.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Prepare a toned canvas with a warm underpainting.
- step 02
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the face, head covering, and shoulders.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color: the skin tones, the blue of the head covering, and the gold of the background and clothing.
- step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, focusing on subtle value changes to create form.
- step 05
Work on the drapery, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
- step 06
Carefully render the details of the head covering, including the decorative patterns.
- step 07
Glaze the gold areas to create depth and luminosity.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to refine the painting.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · ivory black · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna
Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt umber. The blue is created with ultramarine and black, lightened with white. Gold is achieved with yellow ochre and raw sienna, glazed with a thin layer of burnt umber for depth.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·underpainting
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a flat or lifeless appearance.
- →Failing to create a smooth transition between values.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Making the gold too bright and flat.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas
- ·Oil paints: yellow ochre, ivory black, titanium white, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, raw sienna
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
optional
- ·Retouch varnish
- ·Medium gloss
A smooth canvas is recommended for easier blending. Consider using a canvas with a pre-applied gesso layer.
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