plate no. 6627

Portinari Triptych

oil, panelNorthern Renaissancereligious paintingfiguresreligious scenearchitecturelandscapeangelsportraits

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering complex drapery, capturing realistic skin tones, and understanding the principles of perspective in a crowded composition. It also provides practice in depicting a variety of textures and details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 60 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch of the overall composition, paying attention to the placement of the figures and architectural elements.
step 02
Establish the basic values and color blocks for each section of the triptych.
step 03
Focus on the central panel, building up the layers of color and detail in the figures and the surrounding scene.
step 04
Work on the drapery, using highlights and shadows to create a sense of volume and texture.
step 05
Develop the skin tones, using a limited palette and subtle blending techniques.
step 06
Add details to the architectural elements and landscape, paying attention to perspective and scale.
step 07
Refine the details of the faces and hands, capturing the expressions and gestures of the figures.
step 08
Add final glazes to enhance the colors and create a sense of depth.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · crimson red · yellow ochre · ivory black

secondary · viridian green · burnt umber · titanium white · raw sienna

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and using thin glazes. Use white sparingly to create highlights and avoid a chalky appearance.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·underpainting
·chiaroscuro
·dry brushing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Using too much white, resulting in a flat or chalky appearance.
→Ignoring the principles of perspective, leading to a distorted composition.
→Failing to capture the subtle nuances of skin tones.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (large size)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, crimson red, yellow ochre, ivory black, viridian green, burnt umber, titanium white, raw sienna)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags