plate no. 9055
Madonna Hertz
Giulio Romano, 1515
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, figure drawing, and rendering realistic skin tones and drapery folds. It also provides practice in creating subtle gradations of light and shadow.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 30 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main figures and composition.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, drapery, and background.
- step 03
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 04
Work on the drapery, creating folds and highlights with varying shades of blue and red.
- step 05
Develop the background and architectural elements, focusing on subtle tonal variations.
- step 06
Refine the details of the faces, including eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 07
Add the halo and any final details.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and add depth.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black
Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Achieve the blue drapery by mixing ultramarine blue with white and small amounts of umber for shadows. Use glazes of burnt umber and ivory black to create depth in the background.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·portraiture
- ·figure drawing
common pitfalls
- →Overblending skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
- →Incorrect proportions of the figures.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the background.
- →Getting the drapery folds wrong, making them look unnatural
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Allow each layer to dry before applying the next.
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