plate no. 7401

St. Andrew

oil, canvasTenebrismreligious paintingfiguremanbeardbookrobereligious

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand chiaroscuro and how to model forms using light and shadow. It also provides practice in rendering realistic textures like skin, hair, and fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, book, and robe.
step 02
Establish the dark background and general shadow areas using a thin wash of burnt umber.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light on the face, hands, robe, and book with a mid-tone mixture.
step 04
Begin layering lighter tones on the highlighted areas, gradually building up the form.
step 05
Add darker tones to the shadow areas, paying attention to the subtle gradations of value.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, hands, beard, and book, focusing on accurate proportions and textures.
step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the depth of shadows.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown and beige by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white. Use cadmium red to create the red robe, and add ivory black to darken the shadows.

techniques