plate no. 3055

Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew

oil, canvasTenebrismreligious paintingfiguresreligious scenetorturebearddramatic lighting

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students understand chiaroscuro and how to model forms using light and shadow. It also provides practice in rendering realistic skin tones and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Establish the dark background using a thin wash of dark brown and black.
step 03
Block in the main light areas on the figures with a mid-tone.
step 04
Begin building up the highlights on the skin, paying attention to the anatomical forms.
step 05
Define the shadows, using darker values to create depth and contrast.
step 06
Add details to the faces, hands, and clothing, using smaller brushes.
step 07
Refine the edges and blend the transitions between light and shadow.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, raw sienna, and small amounts of red and umber. Shadows are created by adding black and umber to the base skin tone. Vary the proportions to create subtle color shifts.

techniques