plate no. 4550

Saint Jerome reading a letter

oil, canvasTenebrismreligious paintingfiguresaintletterglassesred robebeard

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering dramatic lighting and creating realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting textures, such as fabric and paper.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and the letter.
step 02
Establish the dark background with a thin layer of black or dark brown.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, using a mid-tone for the skin and a base color for the red robe.
step 04
Begin layering the skin tones, paying attention to the highlights and shadows created by the light source.
step 05
Develop the folds and shadows in the red robe, using darker shades of red and brown.
step 06
Add details to the letter and glasses, using fine brushes.
step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final details, such as the texture of the beard and the subtle variations in the background.

color palette

primary · red · ivory black · raw umber

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · titanium white

Mix various shades of red by combining red with burnt sienna and a touch of black. Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a small amount of red and umber.

techniques

·chiaroscuro
·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the painting process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated or unnatural.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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