plate no. 9704

Saint Leander of Seville

oil, canvasBaroquereligious paintingfigurereligious figurerobestaffcurtainchair

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic fabric folds. It also provides practice in creating subtle value shifts to model form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, blended strokes of dark colors.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure's robe and hat with light and shadow.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle value changes.
step 05
Add details to the robe, including the gold trim and fabric folds.
step 06
Paint the staff and the scroll, paying attention to their texture and form.
step 07
Refine the background and add any remaining details.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · raw umber · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of white with small amounts of yellow ochre and raw umber to achieve the subtle variations in the robe. Use cadmium red mixed with ivory black to create the deep reds in the curtain.

techniques