plate no. 3441

Salvator Mundi

oil, panelHigh Renaissancereligious paintingfigureportraitreligiousbookdraperyhair

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle blending, and rendering realistic skin tones and drapery. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth through value and color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure's pose, proportions, and major shapes.
step 02
Block in the background with dark values, establishing the overall tonal range.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones using a limited palette and focus on accurate value placement.
step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to create smooth transitions and subtle variations in skin tone.
step 05
Paint the drapery, paying attention to the folds and highlights to create a sense of volume.
step 06
Add details to the hair, using thin brushes to create individual strands and curls.
step 07
Refine the features of the face, focusing on accurate rendering of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the figure.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, and umber, adjusting proportions for highlights and shadows. Create the drapery colors by mixing blue with small amounts of red and umber. Use glazes of viridian for the green drapery.

techniques