plate no. 5618

Rest of the Holy Family

oilBaroquereligious paintingfiguresbabyclothingbasketreligiousfamily

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, drapery rendering, and creating subtle skin tones. It also provides practice in capturing realistic textures and lighting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main figures and their positions.
step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes of dark and light browns.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the clothing: red for Mary, blue-gray for Joseph.
step 04
Start building up the skin tones of the figures, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Refine the drapery folds and details in the clothing.
step 06
Add details to the baby's form and the basket.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create depth and harmony.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · red · blue-gray · brown · white

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · raw sienna

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white with small amounts of red, yellow ochre, and burnt umber. The blue-gray is a mix of blue, gray, and white. The red is toned down with burnt umber.

techniques

·Chiaroscuro (strong contrast between light and dark)
·Glazing (thin layers of transparent color)
·Blending
·Underpainting
·Scumbling

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the figures
→Overly saturated colors
→Lack of depth in the background
→Insufficient blending of skin tones

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints: titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, raw sienna, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, ivory black
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags