plate no. 4879

Salvator Mundi

oil, woodHigh Renaissancereligious paintingfigureportraitreligious figurerobehandsky

some experience helpful

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

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the background with thin washes of blue and gray, blending to create a soft, atmospheric effect.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, starting with the robe and then the face and hands.
step 04
Begin layering skin tones, using a limited palette and focusing on subtle shifts in value and hue.
step 05
Add details to the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying close attention to the light and shadow.
step 06
Refine the drapery, adding folds and highlights to create a sense of volume.
step 07
Paint the hair, using thin, broken strokes to suggest texture and movement.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, and umber, with small amounts of yellow ochre and blue for subtle variations. The robe is primarily red and umber, with darker values achieved by adding blue.

techniques