plate no. 3075

St. Anthony the Abbot and St. Paul the First Hermit

oil, canvasBaroquereligious paintingfigureslandscaperocksskytreescave

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures in a landscape setting and understanding atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in capturing the texture of rocks and foliage with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures, rocks, and horizon line.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas using a thin wash of burnt umber.
step 03
Block in the sky with broad strokes, blending blues, grays, and whites to create cloud formations.
step 04
Develop the rocks, using a variety of browns and grays, and pay attention to the direction of light.
step 05
Paint the figures, starting with the underpainting and gradually building up the details of the faces and clothing.
step 06
Add details to the trees and foliage, using a dry brush technique to create texture.
step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows throughout the painting to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final details, such as the crow and the distant landscape.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

secondary · raw sienna · ivory black · cadmium yellow light

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, ultramarine blue, and titanium white. Use yellow ochre and cadmium yellow light to create highlights on the rocks and foliage.

techniques