plate no. 2813

Man of Sorrows

oilNorthern Renaissancereligious paintingfigurereligious scenecrossangelsgold backgroundsorrow

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, rendering skin tones, and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in depicting drapery and using a limited color palette effectively.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main figures and the cross, paying attention to proportions and placement.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of burnt umber to establish the basic values and shadows.
step 03
Begin layering the skin tones, mixing white, ochre, and a touch of red for highlights, and adding burnt umber and a bit of blue for shadows.
step 04
Paint the drapery, focusing on the folds and highlights to create a sense of volume.
step 05
Carefully render the details of the faces, paying attention to the expressions.
step 06
Apply the gold background using thin layers of yellow ochre and gold paint, building up the color gradually.
step 07
Add the blood details using a mix of red and brown, being mindful of placement and intensity.
step 08
Refine the details and add final highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, ochre, and red, with small amounts of blue and burnt umber for shadows. The gold background is created using layers of yellow ochre and gold paint.

techniques