plate no. 0861
Salvator Mundi
Anton Raphael Mengs, 1778
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in achieving smooth skin tones and subtle gradations of light and shadow. It also provides practice in rendering hair and facial features with accuracy.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
5
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Prepare the canvas with a neutral ground.
- step 02
Create a light sketch of the figure, paying attention to proportions and placement.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, background, and drapery.
- step 04
Begin layering the skin tones, focusing on subtle shifts in value and hue.
- step 05
Develop the hair, using thin layers to build up volume and texture.
- step 06
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 07
Add the halo effect with soft, blended strokes of yellow and white.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red light
secondary · ivory black · ultramarine blue · raw sienna
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and black for shadows. Mix yellow ochre and white for the halo.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Failing to capture the subtle nuances of light and shadow.
- →Inaccurate proportions in the initial sketch.
- →Harsh or unnatural color transitions.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·mahogany palette
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to improve blending and glazing.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
related artworks
Portrait of Sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon working at the bust of Voltaire
Marie-Gabrielle Capet
The Roman antiquities, t. 1, Plate XXXI. Temple of Antonius and Faustina.
Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Portrait of Louis d'Orleans
Franz Xaver Winterhalter
Rooftops in the shadows
Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes
The Schmadribach Falls
Joseph Anton Koch
A Scene from 'As You Like It' by William Shakespeare
William Hamilton
Portrait of Klementyna Ostrowska Née Sanguszko
Vincenzo Camuccini
Self-Portrait
Anton Raphael Mengs