plate no. 4092
Salvator Mundi
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict drapery and create a sense of depth.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 30 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the figure, drapery, and background landscape.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas: skin tones, blue robe, red drapery, and landscape.
- step 03
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in color and value.
- step 04
Develop the drapery folds, using highlights and shadows to create volume.
- step 05
Refine the landscape background, focusing on atmospheric perspective.
- step 06
Add details to the globe, including highlights and reflections.
- step 07
Paint the gold halo and decorative trim.
- step 08
Add final details and glazes to unify the painting.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · rose madder · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · viridian green · raw umber · ivory black
Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, rose madder, and white; create variations by adding small amounts of blue or green. Mix blues and greens to create the landscape.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·portraiture
- ·drapery study
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
- →Failing to capture the subtle nuances of light and shadow in the drapery.
- →Creating a landscape that is too bright or distracting.
- →Inaccurate proportions of the figure.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 0, 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·retouch varnish
- ·painting medium
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to simplify the initial stages of painting.
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