plate no. 3076

Polyptych of St. Peter (San Placido)

oilHigh Renaissancereligious paintingfigurereligiousportraithandsrobehalo

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone blending, as well as understanding how to depict drapery and folds in clothing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, hands, and robe.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of blue, allowing for subtle variations in tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hands, and robe, paying attention to the light source.
step 04
Begin blending the skin tones, using small, circular brushstrokes to create smooth transitions.
step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using a fine brush.
step 06
Refine the folds and shadows in the robe, using darker shades of black and brown.
step 07
Paint the palm frond with a bright green, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Add the subtle halo around the head with a light, shimmering gold or white.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · sap green

Mix skin tones by blending white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Achieve the dark robe color by mixing black with a touch of umber and blue.

techniques