plate no. 5167

Mary Magdalene

oilRomanticismreligious paintingfigureportraithairjarshawlbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric textures and subtle color variations in hair.

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 of the figure and the jar.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, background, shawl, and dress.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Work on the hair, using thin layers of paint to create texture and depth.
step 05
Develop the background pattern, using a small brush for detail.
step 06
Add details to the shawl, including the leaf pattern and folds.
step 07
Refine the jar, paying attention to its shape and texture.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism.

color palette

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

secondary · viridian green · ivory black · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Achieve the green background by mixing viridian green with black and a touch of yellow. Create the hair color by layering burnt umber, red, and yellow ochre.

techniques