plate no. 5790

Portrait of Girolamo Savonarola

oil, panelHigh Renaissanceportraitportraitfiguremanrobehoodreligious figure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering skin tones and creating subtle gradations of light and shadow. It also provides practice in capturing the likeness and character of a subject.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure's outline and main features, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, neutral color.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones on the face, using thin washes of color.
step 04
Begin to build up the shadows and highlights on the face, blending carefully to create smooth transitions.
step 05
Paint the robe, focusing on the folds and drapery.
step 06
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Refine the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Shadows are created by adding burnt umber and raw umber to the skin tone mixture. The robe is primarily ivory black with subtle variations created by adding small amounts of raw umber or burnt umber.

techniques