plate no. 7152

Prophet Elijah and the Widow of Sarepta

oil, canvasBaroquereligious paintingfiguresreligious sceneinteriorclothingvesselbowl

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, figure drawing, and creating dramatic lighting effects using chiaroscuro. It also provides practice in rendering realistic skin tones and drapery.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figures and objects.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Establish the light source and begin building up the highlights and shadows.
step 04
Develop the skin tones, paying attention to subtle color variations and transitions.
step 05
Paint the drapery, focusing on the folds and textures.
step 06
Add details to the faces, hands, and objects.
step 07
Refine the overall composition and values.
step 08
Add final glazes to enhance the depth and luminosity of the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, burnt umber, and a touch of cadmium red. Use black and burnt umber for dark shadows, and lighten with white for highlights. Mix yellow ochre with burnt umber and white for the clothing.

techniques