plate no. 2446
Pinacoteca Mus'a Al Canopoleno - Mibac
Quentin Matsys, 1530
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including rendering skin tones and capturing subtle facial expressions, as well as understanding the use of light and shadow to create form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figures.
- step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted color.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin tones, clothing, and rosary.
- step 04
Start building up the skin tones with layers of thin glazes, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Define the facial features and details, such as wrinkles and folds, using small, precise brushstrokes.
- step 06
Work on the clothing, adding depth and texture with subtle variations in color and value.
- step 07
Paint the rosary beads, capturing their roundness and reflective quality.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition and add any final details.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna
secondary · cadmium red · ivory black
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, umber, and sienna, with small amounts of red for warmth. Darken shadows with black and umber.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·portraiture
- ·underpainting
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the figures.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.
- →Applying paint too thickly, obscuring the underlying layers.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·linseed oil
- ·assorted round and flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·damar varnish
- ·painting medium
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Allow each layer to dry before applying the next.
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