plate no. 2713

Rest on the Flight to Egypt

oil, canvasMannerism (Late Renaissance)religious paintingfigureslandscapereligious scenefamilybirdstill life

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, figure drawing, and creating realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict complex drapery and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 40 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch, focusing on the placement and proportions of the figures and main objects.
step 02
Block in the background with dark, muted tones, establishing the overall atmosphere.
step 03
Begin painting the figures, starting with the underpainting to establish the basic shapes and values.
step 04
Develop the skin tones using layers of thin glazes, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Paint the drapery, focusing on the folds and textures, using a combination of blending and dry brush techniques.
step 06
Add details to the still life elements, such as the food, basket, and bird, using precise brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting the values and colors as needed to create a sense of depth and harmony.
step 08
Apply a final layer of varnish to protect the painting and enhance its colors.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · raw sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Darken shadows with umber and blue. Use thin glazes of red and umber to create depth in the drapery.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·portraiture
·figure drawing

common pitfalls

→Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, leading to a lack of depth and dimension.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the drapery, resulting in a monotonous and unrealistic effect.
→Getting lost in the details before establishing the overall composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (ivory black, burnt umber, cadmium red, titanium white, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, raw sienna)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags