plate no. 8075

Perugia Altarpiece (left panel)

panel, temperaEarly Renaissancereligious paintingfiguresreligiousrobesbookshalogold background

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering drapery folds, creating a sense of depth using value, and working with a limited color palette to achieve harmony.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures and their robes.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the gold background, the robes, and the skin tones.
step 03
Begin to define the folds and shadows in the drapery, using darker values of the base colors.
step 04
Add highlights to the robes and skin to create a sense of volume and form.
step 05
Paint the details of the faces, hands, and books.
step 06
Create the gold leaf effect in the background and halos using metallic paint and stippling.
step 07
Add the small details like the flower and the patterns on the robes.
step 08
Refine the edges and details to create a polished finish.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · gold · raw umber

secondary · cadmium red light · sap green

Achieve the subtle gradations in the robes by mixing white with small amounts of black or umber. Use thin glazes of color to build up depth and luminosity.

techniques