plate no. 9885

Satan in Council

engravingRomanticismillustrationfiguresarchitecturecolumnsthronesmokewings

advanced study

Recreating this image will help students develop skills in rendering complex scenes with dramatic lighting and intricate details. It will also improve their understanding of value relationships and creating depth through tonal variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition and placement of key elements like the throne, figures, and columns.
step 02
Block in the darkest areas of the image, focusing on the foreground figures and shadowed areas of the architecture.
step 03
Gradually build up the mid-tones, paying attention to the direction of light and how it affects the forms.
step 04
Add the lightest areas, such as the light emanating from the throne and highlights on the figures.
step 05
Refine the details of the architecture, including the columns, arches, and decorative elements.
step 06
Work on the figures, adding details to their faces, bodies, and wings.
step 07
Create the atmospheric effects of smoke and shadow by layering thin washes of paint or ink.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to enhance the sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · payne's gray · raw umber

Achieve different shades of gray by mixing black and white in varying proportions. Use raw umber to add warmth to some of the darker areas. Payne's gray can be used to create subtle cool shadows.

techniques