plate no. 9705

Massacre of the Innocents

oilRomanticismgenre paintingfiguresrefugeesstairsarchwaystonefoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, particularly rendering emotions and drapery, and understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth.

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 figures and the architectural elements.
step 02
Establish the light and shadow areas with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Begin blocking in the main colors of the figures' clothing and skin tones, paying attention to the values.
step 04
Develop the background figures and architectural details, using lighter values and softer edges to create distance.
step 05
Refine the details of the main figures, focusing on the facial expressions and the folds of the drapery.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to unify the painting and create subtle color variations.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · alizarin crimson

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix various shades of browns and grays by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, ivory black, and titanium white. Use alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue to create the darker reds and purples in the clothing. Add yellow ochre to create warmer skin tones.

techniques