plate no. 2798

Saint John

oilBaroquereligious paintingfigurebookrobeportraitreligiouswriting

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding chiaroscuro to create depth and drama.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the figure, book, and major folds of the robe.
step 02
Establish the dark background using a thin wash of dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, red robe, green shirt, and book pages.
step 04
Start building up the skin tones with layers of light and shadow, paying close attention to the subtle transitions.
step 05
Develop the folds and highlights in the red robe, using thicker paint and bolder brushstrokes.
step 06
Add details to the book, including the texture of the pages and the quill pen.
step 07
Refine the facial features and hair, focusing on capturing the expression and likeness.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · red · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · green · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing yellow ochre, burnt umber, and white. The red robe is a mix of red with touches of burnt umber for shadows and white for highlights. Dark background is achieved by mixing burnt umber and black.

techniques