plate no. 9735

Saint Bartholomew

oil, panelBaroquereligious paintingfigureportraitsaintbeardclothknife

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering realistic skin tones and drapery folds. It also provides practice in creating depth and form using chiaroscuro.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, cloth, and knife.
step 02
Block in the dark background using a thin wash of dark brown or black.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face and hands using earth tones like burnt umber and raw sienna.
step 04
Begin layering in more color to the face, adding subtle variations in skin tone with reds, yellows, and whites.
step 05
Work on the drapery, focusing on capturing the folds and highlights with varying shades of yellow and brown.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value.
step 07
Add the details of the knife, using dark tones to create contrast and highlight the metallic surface.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring that the values and colors are balanced and harmonious.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red light · ivory black

Mix skin tones by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, cadmium red light, and titanium white. Vary the proportions to create different shades and highlights. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber to create the drapery, adding white for highlights and black for shadows.

techniques