plate no. 2849

Pope Gregory XIII

oilMannerism (Late Renaissance)portraitportraitfigureclothingchairbeardhistorical

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in mixing subtle color variations and creating a sense of depth through value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted green.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: the red robe, white garments, and skin tones.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Develop the folds and textures of the robe and garments, using layering and glazing techniques.
step 06
Add details to the chair and background, ensuring they remain secondary to the figure.
step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and volume.
step 08
Add final details, such as the rings and the paper in the figure's hand.

color palette

primary · crimson red · ivory white · raw umber · yellow ochre

secondary · viridian green · burnt sienna · payne's gray

Mix the red robe color by combining crimson red with a touch of burnt sienna and raw umber to create depth. Use ivory white mixed with small amounts of yellow ochre and raw umber for the white garments. Skin tones can be achieved by mixing yellow ochre, crimson red, and raw umber.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·fabric rendering

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and volume.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (crimson red, ivory white, raw umber, yellow ochre, viridian green, burnt sienna, payne's gray)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags or paper towels