plate no. 8900

San Francisco de Asís

oil, canvasBaroquereligious paintingfigurereligiousskullbookcrossrobe

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering drapery folds and creating a somber mood through limited color palettes and chiaroscuro. It also provides practice in depicting realistic skin tones and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the main figure, skull, and cross.
step 02
Establish the dark background with a thin wash of dark brown.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure's robe with mid-tone browns and grays.
step 04
Begin building up the highlights and shadows on the robe, focusing on the folds and drapery.
step 05
Paint the face and hands, paying attention to the subtle variations in skin tone.
step 06
Add details to the skull, book, and cross, using small brushes.
step 07
Refine the lighting and shadows throughout the painting, creating a sense of depth.
step 08
Add final details like the rope and the small plants.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt umber · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · titanium white · cadmium red

Achieve the robe's color by mixing raw umber and ivory black with small amounts of yellow ochre and white. Skin tones can be created by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of cadmium red.

techniques

·chiaroscuro
·glazing
·scumbling
·drapery rendering
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overblending, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the shadows and highlights.
→Getting lost in details too early, before establishing the overall composition.
→Not paying attention to the anatomy of the figure and skull.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints: raw umber, burnt umber, ivory black, yellow ochre, titanium white, cadmium red
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags