plate no. 5910

Savior nerukotvornyi (Saviour Not-Made-By-Hands) from the Zhovkva iconostasis

frescoBaroquereligious paintingreligious figureangelsgold frameiconornaments

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering complex textures and patterns, as well as portraiture and figure painting with attention to detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare the canvas with a warm underpainting of burnt umber.
step 02
Sketch the basic composition, including the central figure, angels, and frame.
step 03
Block in the main colors for the figure, angels' robes, and wings.
step 04
Begin layering the gold tones in the frame, using variations in value to create depth and texture.
step 05
Develop the details of the face, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle shading.
step 06
Add details to the angels, including their hair, wings, and clothing folds.
step 07
Paint the intricate patterns on the background and frame, using fine brushes.
step 08
Apply a final glaze to unify the colors and add a sense of age.

color palette

primary · gold · red · green · skin tones

secondary · white · blue · brown

Achieve gold tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of black or raw umber. Skin tones can be mixed using red, yellow, white, and a touch of blue or green.

techniques