plate no. 6394

Madonna with Child Gentile da Fabriano

panel, temperaInternational Gothicreligious paintingMadonnaChildreligious figurehalogold backgroundplants

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure painting, layering colors to create depth, and working with a limited color palette to achieve harmony. It also provides practice in rendering drapery and creating a sense of texture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare the surface with a gesso layer and lightly sketch the main figures and composition.
step 02
Apply a base layer of gold leaf or metallic gold paint to the background.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures with thin washes of color, focusing on accurate proportions.
step 04
Begin layering colors to build up the form of the Madonna and Child, paying attention to light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the drapery, plants, and other elements, using small brushes and precise strokes.
step 06
Create the halos using a compass and fine brush, filling them with gold paint.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the figures.
step 08
Varnish the painting to protect the surface and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · gold · ultramarine blue · red ochre · ivory black

secondary · raw umber · vermilion · yellow ochre

Mix ultramarine blue and ivory black for the dark robes, adding small amounts of raw umber to create depth. Use red ochre and vermilion for the drapery, layering to create highlights and shadows. Mix yellow ochre with white to create the flesh tones, adding small amounts of red for warmth.

techniques